Love Language

Growing up in a Christian community there was a lot of talk about love languages. We took tests to see how we received love and how we offered love. We compared our styles to our peers and tried to evaluate, on our own, if those results were actually accurate. I think my love languages have changed as I've matured and dealt with different trials, ups and downs in my life. I've reached a point where I think things have leveled out, so to speak, and the way I love and receive love has become pretty steady. Maybe it's because I'm married, I have a regular routine, I have children, I'm a home owner. And maybe it's none of those things. Maybe it's just who I am. Either way, I find peace in my love language of gifts. When someone puts in the time and effort to give me something thoughtful, unique, and heart felt, I see their love for me through it. Oh man, and when it's something they made themselves, it's like Christmas in my heart! It's not that I love getting gifts. It's that I see the love someone has for me through their desire to make me happy. And if you know me or someone with the same love language, you understand this.

Many people offer love in one language and receive it in a different one. Mine however are the same. I find so much joy in giving someone a gift as much as in receiving one. It's difficult b/c I'm married to a man who's does not receive love through gifts. So as much as I love giving creative things to my husband, I know that he doesn't receive them with the same enthusiasm  It's not because he's ungrateful, it's just not how he interprets love. This has been a hard lesson for me in my marriage. I can't tell you how many times I've been so excited to show him something I created, or purchased specifically for him and then had to fight disappointment because he didn't react in the way I wanted him to. I'm still learning of course, but I've grown a lot in the ability to remind myself that although I should continue to pursue my love language, I should not be discouraged when someone else doesn't receive it equally.

Anyways, I've done a lot of loving this week. Starting with meals for a cousin with a new baby, another cousin with some health problems and  then some muffins for a good friend getting over the flu. Although I don't envy the stress that comes with any of their situations, I'm grateful for them in their current conditions so that I have an excuse to love on them in my own delicious, home made way.