How do we say — I Love You?

Posted on October 10, 2011 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

a bouquet sitting in the lobby at my mom's place

Good Morning, God!

Giving flowers is one of the ways we say, “I love you!” And a lovely thing about flowers is that they don’t last. As my accumulation of Stuff grows, I value gifts that don’t last . . . or take up much space.

But gifts are just one way of expressing love.

I still remember reading Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages. Until then I hadn’t really thought that we might all speak different “love languages.” Chapman categorizes them as 1) Words of Affirmation. 2) Quality Time. 3) Gifts. 4) Acts of Service . 5) Physical Touch.

Needless to say, God, it is important that we say “I LOVE YOU” in the “right” language. Or as Bruce Larsen once wrote, “A lot of wives bake their husband an apple pie when he would rather have a good romp in bed.” Ah, yes, God, that would fall under physical touch — or maybe quality time? Finding the best Love Languages for our Loved Ones — and ourselves — is really important, God!

I can’t remember where I first read about the idea of a Love Bank Account — but I know that my husband, Kit, and I really try to stay “aware” of our need to make regular deposits in the other’s account. Small things really help. Having Kit bring us coffee in bed first thing in the morning, and then chat with me for the next 10 or 15 minutes, in an enormous gift to me.

I’d rather have the gift of regular quality time than countless bouquets of flowers! But, then, “talk time” is one of my love languages. Thank You, God for all the ways there are to say — I LOVE YOU!