This day is a wonderful day to show our love to one another. But, what about the other 364 days of the year?
What about Love Languages? Are we focusing on one other’s love language? What are love languages?
*Words of Affirmation
*Quality Time
*Acts of Service
*Physical Touch
*Gifts
To begin, we probably ought to know our own love language. So, ask yourself, when do I feel loved the most? Is it when someone verbally appreciates me? Is it when someone spends time with me? Is it when someone does something for me? Is it a hug, a back rub, foot rub, or a kiss? Is it when someone gives me a gift?
When we know our own love language, we can better communicate with others, "When you do this ______, I feel loved." Is this selfish? NO, not at all! The Lord made each of us so very unique with specific needs, so why should we not know our own love language? There are many little quizes you can look up online to see if your love language is stronger in one area or another, too.
Why do we need to know other's love language? When it comes to our kids, we need to speak their love language to know exactly how they feel loved. We need to know as their parents to speak their language so they know how much they are loved!
The same could be said of our spouses as well! Imagine a world where each spouse is actively seeking to speak their spouse's love language daily?! That's 365 days a year that LOVE is being spoken in verbal AND nonverbal ways, but the message is loud and clear--
I LOVE YOU!
I LOVE YOU!
My love language includes all of the above to a certain extent, but I’m mostly acts of service. I love spending quality time with my family, getting and giving hugs and kisses, doing things for others, encouraging and lifting others up, as well as giving gifs. I try to find out what others' love languages are and speaking that language loud and clear.
Years ago, I asked my husband to stop bringing me flowers.
*GASP*
Years ago, I asked my husband to stop bringing me flowers.
*GASP*
Yes! I did!
But why?
I looked at the flowers within a week or two and they died. I didn't like that because I know the love that went in to picking those out. So I asked my husband to give me living flowers instead. That way they can come back year after year and it will remind me of his love for me.
...so this year...
He included our little grand blessing in the digging!
Preparing the ground to plant the maple tree.
Our little "foreman". lol
He said, "Can I do it, Papa?"...and the next day he found these in the yard...
So he grabbed the grandblessing and out they went to dig up the dirt!
So he grabbed the grandblessing and out they went to dig up the dirt!
They transplanted the Rose of Sharon while I was at the grocery store.
He speaks my love language very well!
They transplanted another tree on the other side of the yard, too, but they did that while I was napping to surprise me.
So what did he plant for me?
I asked him instead of flowers this year, if we could get a maple tree for the front yard. That was the first one above. Then we put a ribbon on the branch of a Rose of Sharon bush when it was blooming last year to transplant when it was dormant. I love that when I look at it I can think of the Rose of Sharon mentioned in the Bible in the Song of Solomon 2:1. It's also a beautiful oil in the Ancient Oils of Scripture, too! If you haven't smelled it yet, let me know! I'll be glad to send you a sample!
We're planning to transplant more things as we look around and decide what to do with them. We have quite a few lillies to decide where to plant. I'd love to get some fruit trees and some berry bushes, too.
So what did I do for my husband for Valentine's Day? I made him a cheesecake on Sunday so he could have it before he started preparing for a colonoscopy! Hooray! Yes, the picture above is my cheesecake. It is a Gluten Free Sugar Free cheesecake. It is a chocolate almond flour crust and coffee cheesecake.
So, for those of you who are wondering about giving up your favorite foods, you'll be happy to know, there are some wonderful ways you can make adjustments to what you already do to be a bit healthier with your diets. It's more nutrient dense, so that's a plus, too!
What do you do that is "Unconventional" for Valentine's Day?
Love & God Bless,
Regina Graham
My post physical therapy ice pack and muscle stimulation, Whew!
I am not a doctor. I cannot diagnose, prescribe, or treat anyone
for any disease or sickness.
