Speaking Love
Have you ever had to communicate with someone from a foreign country and realized that speaking two different languages can be frustrating? Or maybe you open a book written in another language, and you feel completely lost?
Sometimes relationship issues can feel the same way. It is very possible for two well-meaning people, who truly love each other, to feel unfulfilled in their relationship because they have not yet learned each other’s love language.
This can be true in not only romantic relationships, but also familial relationships and friendships alike!
Dr. Gary Chapman, a happily married man of 45 years and a marriage counselor of 35, has written a book called, The Five Love Languages. This book addresses relationship issues by highlighting the five primary ways people receive love. When you learn your partner’s (or anyone’s!) love language, many relationship issues will be resolved, or better yet, avoided.
Follow this link to a cute video that helps us understand the different love languages, as described by Dr. Gary Chapman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQsBwRrbS78
What are the Five Love Languages, and which one are you?
1. Words of Affirmation – You feel loved when you are praised for your accomplishments, you enjoy getting complements, and you thrive on encouragement when you are emotionally down.
2. Acts of Service – You feel loved when you wake up to a fresh pot of coffee, the trash has already been taken out, and your car’s gas tank is full.
3. Receiving Gifts – You feel loved when you are taken out for dinner, given a new dress, or find your favorite cereal in the cupboard.
4. Physical Touch – You feel loved when your partner slips their hand in yours while you’re walking into the store, when you're given a massage before bed because it was a stressful day, and you'd rather sit on the same side of the booth at a restaurant because you just like to be close.
5. Quality Time – You feel loved when your partner turns their cell-phone off and gives you their full attention, when they say no to yet another guys’ night and spends the evening with you instead, and when they decide to make your favorite activity their main priority.
Knowing the way you and your partner, friend, sister, or dad receive love can bring new life and understanding to your relationship. If you have been trying to show someone you love them by giving them gifts when what they really need is words of affirmation, then it's as if you are speaking French to someone who only speaks German. My hope is for this blog to be your translator in resolving your relationship issues. So toss the tissues and bring an end to your relationship issues!
For more information on Dr. Chapman and the Five Love Languages, go to http://www.5lovelanguages.com
Emily Gay is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, and has her Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from Regent University. She is a happy newlywed to her rock star husband, Isaac Gay (isaacgay.com). Emily and Isaac act and teach for the Children's Theater of Charlotte.