Thursday, November 6, 2008

L is for Love Languages

I absolutely love these "Love Languages" books by Gary Chapman. In case you've never heard of these books--here are the 5 main love languages he's identified, (please, please, follow this link to read about them in detail: http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/learn.html )
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

Dr. Chapman also acknowledges that we all probably give and receive love using all five of the languages, but we usually have a dominant language.

Here's a very simple quiz to give you a hint as to what language you communicate in and respond to the most (bare in mind--this is just a little quiz--for the real deal--buy the book!)

The quiz: http://edified.org/myspace/lovelanguage


He has written several books based on these five love languages. This one is geared more towards families.








While The Five Love Languages is more for couples and proved to be insightful for me, I don't find it difficult to analyze and improve upon my husband's and my relationship. We chose each other because we were compatible (and really attracted to each other!) and have been working on our marriage over the years. The kids, however, oh boy! The Five Love Languages of Children was a real eye-opener for me: I reflected on all four of my children and why I was just not "getting through" to each one as well as I wished I could. Now I have a better understanding of what each individual child needs.



This one is geared more towards teens. Dr. Chapman writes, in many of his books, that people's dominant love language sometimes changes over time--especially in times of growth and change. Sounds like puberty is number one on that list!




There are many more love language books: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Love+Language&x=22&y=12


Hope you can at least get your hands on the four that I have pictured here, 'cause, "what the world needs now--is love! Sweet love! It's the only thing that there's just too little of." Seriously though, I hope you find these books both insightful and healing.