What’s Your Love Language?

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“No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.”

– Aesop

Alana Miles

Ever since I was a little girl, the most memorable and meaningful events for me have almost always revolved around some sort of exchange involving a gift. Whenever someone would give me a trinket or memento, my heart would swell up inside of me. It didn’t have to be valuable or rare. It could be homemade or used. But whatever it was, it spoke to my heart. Likewise, my go-to action for showing someone I care is to give them something – some tangible acknowledgment that I thought of them and wanted them to know that they were thought of.   

In 1992, Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a book called, “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts”. In it, he describes five ways that people give and show love. According to Dr. Chapman, the five ways are; Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service, and Receiving Gifts. The Words of Affirmation can be anything spoken which is encouraging and uplifting to the other person – something as simple as saying, “I love you”. Quality Time looks more like putting away the Smartphones or turning off the television and actually spending shared time with your loved one. Physical Touch can be as simple as being in close proximity to your loved one or hugging, kissing, or holding hands. Acts of Service include performing tasks that your loved one would appreciate like helping with chores or cooking.

And then there’s my love language – Receiving Gifts. I love the way Google describes it: “Thoughtful gestures or small tokens that show you are thinking of them; it is not about the monetary value but the effort and thoughtfulness behind the gift.” Countless times over the years a friend, family member, or even just an acquaintance will bless me with some small souvenir or bauble and it immediately becomes a keepsake. I have them displayed all over the house. Small items that have made their way from one person’s hands into mine simply because it reminded them of me or they thought it would brighten my day or maybe that was all that they had to give. And each object has made an impression on me and found a home in my heart.

It truly is the little things. And there are opportunities all around us every day to bless someone in a way that would speak to their particular love language. It is my hope that we will all be a little more in-tuned to ways we can hone in on each other’s love languages and use that knowledge to show God’s love to others. Ultimately though, it was God who showed His love in the most valuable and sacrificial way: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8. May we all begin to speak His love language, and love one another as He loves us. Have a blessed day!