Love Languages

I've been reading bits and pieces of this book over the last week or two. Have you heard of it? Over the course of several years, the author Dr. Gary Chapman came to understand that all people express and receive love in different ways. He calls them "love languages" and they are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. Most important is the idea that each person has a PRIMARY love language and communicating your love to them in THAT way is what is going to meet their deepest emotional need and make them feel most loved.

I encourage you to follow the link above to figure out what your own love language is and that of those people close to you! And then tell eachother about it of course! Also, think about the answers to these questions to help you discover your own love languages:

What makes you feel most loved? What do you desire above all else? What does your spouse do or say or fail to do that hurts you deeply? Or look back and ask yourself, What have I most often requested of my spouse? Another way is discover your own love lanugage is to examine what you do or say to express love to others. (People tend to express love in the same way they need to receive it.)

I think it's one of God's little jokes that my primary love language is Quality Time... and I'm married to a guy who is out of town a LOT!

While this book focuses on the marriage relationship, it really is applicable to ALL types of relationships. The author joined forces with Dr. Ross Campbell to write The Five Love Languages of Children... I might just add it to my Christmas wishlist!

Back when we were in Washington, we felt like we got some insight into Jonah's primary love language. When we saw deer one day, Jonah said "they love Jonah". When asked "why?" he paused for a LONG time, and then said, "because they play with Jonah." He said that several times for various different types of animals during the course of that week. So, perhaps his love language is Quality Time? Time will tell I suppose!