1 GIVE THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE YOUR SPOUSE RECEIVES

“Have you heard about the five languages of love?” the seminar participant asked. My memory was jogged. Of course, Gary Chapman’s list immediately came to mind: gift giving, acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time and physical touch.

Each of us has an expressive and a receptive preference in these languages of love. For example, I may prefer to give gifts as my expressive love language. So I bring my wife all kinds of gifts to say to her, “I love you.” But her receptive love language may be quality time. If I fail to spend enough quality time with her, all the gifts in the world will never adequately communicate to her my love and devotion.

Try this: Find out your mate’s receptive love language. Express your love in all the love languages, but spend the most effort in giving to him what he needs instead of want you want to give.

Remember to love you mate with his receptive love language. Love seeks the best for your spouse.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. Love never fails.

1 Cor. 13:4–8