Love Languages

 

This article is not so much about Biblical stuff, it’s based on a book by Gary Chapman called “Five Love Languages”.

And I have added some clarifications and observations of my own.

This article is more of an “appendix” to “Love One Another”.

 

The basic idea is that each of us has different things that make us feel loved. For me it might be physical affection like hugs, but for you it might be getting a compliment that you feel you deserve.

This becomes important in two ways.

 

Firstly, if I am a Words of Encouragement person, then I will react very badly to criticism. Essentially I will hear criticism as “I don’t love you”.

So I need to learn what my love language is so I know when I’m hearing wrong. When I’m reacting because of my love language and not rationally.

Then I need to learn not to react so much in those cases, and to realize the other person is NOT telling me they hate me, they are just criticizing something.

This realization can be life changing.

 

Secondly, I need to learn your love language. If, for example, your love language is Words of Encouragement, but mine is Physical Affection and I try to show you love by giving you a hug… You will not understand what I am saying.

I will be saying “I love you” but you won’t understand it. You’ll just find me annoying. (And of course, you’ll probably push me away, which I will take as “I hate you”, even though you only meant “You’re annoying me”).

If your language is Words of Encouragement, and I want to show you love, I need to give you a compliment. It’s the only way.

Just like, if you speak English and I say 愛するよ。You just won’t understand what I’m saying. I’ll think I’ve said and done all the right things but you just won’t get the message.

It will be unsatisfying for both of us.

 

And this works for spouses. It works for parents showing love to their children. And amazingly it works for managers making their subordinates feel loved (or at least valued).

But best of all, it works for churches showing love to one another...

 

So, what are these “love languages”?

 

Receiving Gifts

Gifts people love gifts. Particularly gifts that show that you put some thought and effort into it.

Don’t give gifts people a gift that is not wrapped (even if it’s really expensive J). Don’t give them a generic gift. And DON’T give them a gift voucher.

Don’t ever forget their birthday, or travel and not buy them at least something small that they will like.

You can recognize Gifts people by the gifts they give you. They will be nicely wrapped. Possibly with hand made cards, or customised wrappings.

And the gifts they give you will have taken a lot of thought and will usually match you really well.

 

Quality Time

Quality Time people want you to spend time with them doing the things they are interested in.

Checking your email on your laptop while you watch a girlie movie with your wife is NOT quality time.

Leaving your laptop at the office so you can watch a girlie movie with your wife is great quality time (as long as she likes girlie movies of course).

The issue is... are you focusing on me? Are we doing this thing together?

Don’t ever try to do two things at once while spending time with them. Don’t fall asleep during the movie.

It is really hard to recognise quality time people. If I am trying to work out someone’s love language, usually I arrive at QT by elimination.

 

Acts of Service

Acts of Service people want you to do something for them. Actually, Acts of Service people usually want to do something for you.

They often really struggle with letting others do things for them. They will feel really valued and loved if they can do something for you that helps you a lot.

So, often the best you can do is help them do something for someone else. Sometimes, like if they’re moving house or something like that, then you can help them do it.

But even if they are really sick, they’re probably going to feel very uncomfortable with you doing something (like cooking dinner) for them (unless you’re married to them).

If your wife is an Acts of Service person you better keep a very short list of things that need fixing around the house.

Be careful when turning down their offer of help. Make sure they know you love them and you value their offer. Explain why you don’t need their help. (I don’t need a lift to the airport because my company will pay for a taxi).

You can recognise Acts of Service people very easily. They are the ones in the kitchen washing up after group dinners. They are the ones who always turn up for working bees. They are the ones stacking the chairs.

 

Physical Touch/Intimacy

Physical Touch people love being cuddled and hugged. They like having their hair played with. They like holding hands.

Actually, I think these people are actually more about intimacy and closeness than physical touch. I think physical touch is just a common way of showing intimacy. If we feel close to people we let them touch us. So these people feel loved when you let them touch you.

For example, from the people I know, I find that the people Chapman calls Physical Touch also feel loved if they are included in secrets. If you confide in them. (And they can usually be trusted to keep secrets too).

Or trust them with special authority or information that nobody else is allowed to know.

If it’s your spouse, then just touch their hair, or shoulder as you walk past them.

Physical Touch is very politically incorrect in many cultures these days, so you need to be very careful. But you will know. And try to share confidences with them instead. Open up about yourself.

What they are looking for is closeness. They want to feel close to you. And that doesn't have to be physical.

Be careful when pushing them away. It will be heard as “I hate you”. So make sure if you need to push, add an “I don’t hate you, but I need space right now”.

Physical Touch people are usually very easy to recognize. They are usually “touchy feely” types.

 

Words of Encouragement

Words of Encouragement people want compliments. But they only want compliments if they think you are being genuine and if they think they deserve it. So don’t over do it.

One thing they do not want is criticism. If you criticize them they will hear “I hate you”, when all you said was “Yes, you’re right the pasta is a bit salty”.

If you need to criticize them over something, make sure you have built a good solid foundation first and they KNOW that you love them. They must know it. Then you need to give them another compliment now. And then you can casually mention the criticism, and follow it up with another compliment. They will know what you are saying. If you do it this way, they will hear “I love you, but yes, you’re right the pasta was a little salty. But the dessert was one of the best ever”.

You don’t need to spell out the criticism as much as you would with other people. Keep it low key. They will exaggerate it in their own heads anyway.

Words of Encouragement people are very easy to recognize (if you criticize them).

Also, particularly if they are not feeling loved in recent times, they can become very critical of everything.

They often have a habit of telling you the same story many times.

 

 

So… which one are you?

What about the other people around you?

How is that going to change how you interact with them?