Norwegians are not known for their expressions of love and affection. “I love you” was not a common phrase around our house. In high school I felt compelled to tell Dad (Stan Opseth) that I loved him, so on the way out the door to school I mustered up the courage to say, “Dad, I love you.”

Dad’s reply, “Ya, okay.”

I wasn’t necessarily looking for an I love you from Dad. I was just relieved that I expressed my love for him.

His response made more sense after talking with Grandma (Dad’s mom, Alma Opseth) on the phone some time later. At the close of the call I said, “Grandma, I love you.”

Her response: “Ya, okay.”

First, we’re always training our children, whether formally or not. They are watching us and picking up our phrases, habits and even sins.

When it came to love, my dad’s parents trained him. Good and bad, they trained him.

There’s no hard feelings with my dad. He may not have expressed his love with words, but he sure did with actions. He would drop whatever he was doing to help with our house, make some furniture or offer some assistance.

1 John 3:18 (ESV) — 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

I’ve told this story enough to my kids that every once in a while after I tell them, “I love you,” they respond with, “Ya, okay!”