How is it that a YF, his parents, and the church got all upset over a guy telling his YF he loved him? There has to be more to it than that. While I don't think it's wise to make too big a deal about how much you love him, I see nothing wrong with voicing it at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner. For instance, I wouldn't advise sitting him down and telling him how much he has changed your life or how your life wouldn't be worth living without him, etc. But I see nothing wrong with a simple "you know I really love you" if the situation presents itself. I've told both my YFs that I loved them and neither freaked.

But I do think we need to be aware of why we want to say it. If it's only because we want to hear it in return, or because we want to deepen the relationship, that's the wrong reason. We shouldn't say it merely for our benefit. But if we want to say it to uplift our YF, then I say go for it. Even though he probably already knows, most people still like to hear it. But it shouldn't be over done or repeated constantly.

Dakota