Notes from the Bookshelf: The 5 Love Languages

Just like we all have different taste in food, music, artwork, decorating....all areas, basically, we all perceive love differently. What speaks volumes to one falls flat to another. In this book, The 5 Love Languages of Children, the authors help us to understand how to communicate love to our kids in different ways.

Through assessments, conversations, and observing them, you can decipher a piece of what makes their hearts tick. While there is overlap and activities that fall in more than one category, the Love Language philosophy speaks of five:

• Physical touch
• Acts of Service
• Words of Affirmation
• Quality Time
• Gifts

Showing unconditional love to our kids provide the foundation for them to grow into healthy, well-adjusted, loving adults. A child raised with only his physical needs of food and shelter met will have great difficulty relating to the world around them.

Speaking their language, especially when it is not our own, is truly a gift we can give. We need to be careful not to teach them to live by their feelings...same goes for us, by the way...but at the same time, recognize that loving is how we show the world that we love Jesus. If we can learn to love others in a way that sinks deep in their emotional love tank, we not only build better relationships, we reap the blessings too.

Visit the website at www.5lovelanguages.com for tools and books to check out. Be sure and peek at the "apology" link while you're there. I found it very enlightening.