The Five Love Languages

Fascinating isn’t it! We are all different yet we all have the same commission. To love our neighbours as ourselves…to be THE LIGHT of the WORLD. How about the way we give and receive love?

My eldest daughter loves to give gifts to people unwell, to friends and to her family. My youngest daughter likes hugging people…and likes to receive hugs…a lot

Have you heard about the five love languages? A categorizing of the way we give and receive love (from a book by Gary Chapman).

Here are the big five:

. Acts of Service
. Words of Affirmation
. Quality Time
. Gifts
. Touch

Now then have a think about them.

Understanding how you, me and others give, and receive love can be very helpful in ALL relationships. I prefer touch (very huggy me) and words. Sharon, my wife, prefers acts of service and quality time. No matter how many times I hug her, it never quite hits the spot as much as sitting down for a good natter. Took me a long time to learn!!…. Ring any bells with you?

Now this is just an observation of the way humans behave, but we have a great commission…to love our neighbour as ourselves…every day. Taking every opportunity in our work, in our streets, and in our community.

How about that - the idea that we could improve our own service and witness to those outside of God’s Kingdom by understanding this love language stuff?

I began to notice that some people in our community love it when we serve them. Others are less bothered, but gifts open up some of these sometimes to the point of tears… Others are desperate for time and someone to listen and understand… all kinds of different people

As Christians, we often major in one language of love when it comes to reaching out… that of words, or in some contexts, just acts of service. How about if we put all five on offer, and work on maximising the people God has made us to be as we reach out to others.

For the people we are reaching, let's watch and listen, and be aware that we need different people, and new different approaches if we are to communicate to as many as possible.

Now, who do you know who is reluctant in sharing their faith and can't communicate using one of the five languages?

God wants us all (however shy) to fulfil more of their destiny, as the LIGHT of THE WORLD…

Roll on the spring!