The Care Projectنموونە

Now You're Speaking My Language

Thoughtfulness can come in many forms. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman gives a great beginning structure that inspires. Love and care are synonymous throughout scripture, and Jesus used a variety of ways to express His love and care depending on who He was engaging. Jesus, while gathered with His disciples, demonstrated love with an act of service. He got down on his hands and knees and washed their feet. Another time, with a man who had leprosy, Jesus showed care using physical touch. It makes sense to use different ways of expressing love as a tool for showing care for others. This will require some homework to know and discover the love language of another person. But, whether or not you know someone’s love language should never stop you from caring for them in creative ways.

My love language is “Physical Touch,” but I’m not going to turn down a word of affirmation from my boss or a gift from my kids. Knowing and loving someone using their “language” just deepens the level of care you show them. My wife’s love language is “Acts of Service,” so when I make the bed, she lights up. It’s something small, even easy, but those are the things that add up. That’s what we are after, right? Building a habit of doing intentional, thoughtful things for others – things outside our normal response.

DAILY OPPORTUNITY

Spend the day identifying the love languages of your family members and a few of your close friends or co-workers.