62 SPEAK TO A CHILD’S HEART NOT ONLY ABOUT
THEIR BEHAVIOR. KNOW YOUR CHILD’S LOVE LANGUAGES.
Gary Chapman wrote a wonderful book on our five love languages. Learn your child’s expressive and receptive love languages.
Our expressive love language is the one with which we prefer to show love to other.
Our receptive love language is the one from which we like to receive love from others. Here are the five languages of love:
1. Quality time. This is spending meaningful and sufficient time one on one with a child.
2. Gift giving. Gifts, no matter what the price, are expressions of love.
3. Acts of service. These are acts that another person needs and doesn’t have to ask for in order to receive them.
4. Affirming words. Kind, uplifting, and encouraging expressions of love are needed daily.
5. Physical touch. It may be anything from rumbling on the floor and play wrestling with a child to hugs, kisses, and loving pats.
Take time to learn which love language your child prefers to express love in and which one they like to receive. While we may enjoy all expressions of love, we usually prefer one or two over the others.
If your expressive love language is gift-giving, but your child prefers receiving love in quality time, you can give them all the gifts in the world and they won’t feel love.
Sit down and talk over this list with your children. Let them tell you about their love languages and you share with them about your preference.
Love is the fulfillment of the law (Rom. 13:10).