I woke this morning to the little precious face on the right licking my nose and ears.  Lilly loves morning and she loves me and the way that she knows to tell me that is to soak my face in puppy saliva.  I love the thought, but dog spit is not really my love language.  I would have loved for her to just come up and cuddle with me quietly while I woke up slowly.  She showed love the only way she knew how.

Sometimes that happens in our human relationships.  Honestly, it probably happens a lot.  Each of us different ways of expressing love and different ways that we interpret love from others – what makes us feel loved.  Sometimes that matches with the other people in our lives, but more often than not it doesn’t.

Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a book about this called The 5 Love Languages.  If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend it.  He breaks the different love languages into these categories:

1.Words of Affirmation

2. Quality Time

3. Receiving Gifts

4. Acts of Service

5. Physical Touch

To figure out your language or that of another, there is a simple quiz:

• I feel especially loved when people express how grateful they are for me, and for the simple, everyday things I do.
• I feel especially loved when a person gives me undivided attention and spends time alone with me.
• I feel especially loved by someone who brings me gifts and other tangible expressions of love.
• I feel especially loved when someone pitches in to help me, perhaps by running errands or taking on my household chores.
• I feel especially loved when a person expresses feelings for me through physical contact.

Too often we don’t understand or know our own language, let alone the language of our loved ones, which can lead to misunderstanding, frustration and deep hurt.

I was reading in John chapter one again today. And once again it occurred to me that Jesus spoke all five of those languages when He came to earth to practically and profoundly show us the love of God.

John 1:14 – The WORD became flesh and lived for a while among us. 

He started by coming to us and being with us – QUALITY TIME.  Check.

Luke 4:40 – When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Mark 10:16 – And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

He touched and healed so many during His time on earth.  PHYSICAL TOUCH. Check.

Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

John 13: 4-5 – …he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

The practical love of God shown in the most humble of ways. ACTS OF SERVICE. Check.

John 15:9 & 15-16 – As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you…I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you…

John 14:2-3 – My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus continually encouraged and strengthened people with His words of God’s love. WORDS OF AFFIRMATION. Check.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 4:10-11 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus brought the ultimate gift – our salvation – and then blessed us with individual gifts and talents.  RECEIVING GIFTS. Check.

No matter what your personality or language type, Jesus has spoken to YOU in your native tongue to tell you He loves you so truly, deeply and madly.  Can you hear it?

Jesus, help me to be a little more like you today, to listen for the love languages of others and speak love to them in a way they can grasp, interpret and receive.  So that they can hear Your love a little louder and see Your love a little more clearly…