Love Language

            How do we say “I love you” to people we love?  In some families, the words “I love you” are never or rarely spoken.  Family members have other ways to tell of love - they may show their love rather than saying their love.    What communicates love best in your native country between sweethearts?  Between other family members?

            What do you think of these ways to say “I love you”?  Rank the following ways to show or receive love in order of your preference and then in order of your spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend’s preferred ways of RECEIVING and GIVING love.  (Add your own ideas to the list at the bottom!)  After you rank these ways, explain why you choose the ways you choose.  How do you adapt to people who use different love languages?

 

WAYS TO SHOW LOVE

I LIKE

MY SPOUSE, GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND LIKES

Hanging around together

 

 

Listening

 

 

Talking

 

 

A hug

 

 

Food

 

 

Taking out the garbage

 

 

A card or letter

 

 

A well-planned event or date

 

 

Flowers

 

 

A love poem

 

 

Baby-sitting

 

 

Working together on a project you care about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day is February 14.  Many people will send cards, candy or flowers to people they love – not just boyfriends and girlfriends, but to family members and friends.  Do you like having holidays like Valentine’s Day?  Do you think it’s just a way for the stores to get people to spend money on their products?

 

Choose your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or some other person that you care about.  Explain at least 3 good qualities of that person to your conversation partners.

 

Would you consider sending them a card and telling them that you appreciate these three things about them?  Why or why not?

 

 

In the Bible, the song of Solomon is a kind of love poem that a king writes to his bride.  Here are some samples of the king’s poetry:

“Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens.”

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men.  In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.  He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.”

“Sustain me with raisin cakes,  refresh me with apples,
Because I am lovesick,
Let his left hand be under my head,
And his right hand embrace me.”

*****Would you like to talk to a favorite man or woman in this poetic language?  Or would it be embarrassing?

*****Does the picture of love between man and woman help us understand love between God and ourselves?  How?