Femine Friday - Love Languages
This week, I have written about some of my favorite languages: from Greek to Latin to Body Language. But today I write about my most favorite - the language of love.
Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a phenomenal book called The Five Love Languages which I take to heart. You can take the online quiz here to determine what your love language is. But let me take a step back. A love language is the way you give or receive love most effectively. For example, I feel more loved when others affirm me or my actions rather than when someone gives me a gift.
Although we may tend to gravitate to a certain type of love language, it is necessary to practice and receive all five.
I was reading a chapter in the Imitation of Mary regarding ‘Loving thy Neighbor’ and I was pleasantly surprised to find that each of the five love languages were exercised by Mama or encouraged by her. Check it out:
Quality Time: In the Gospel of Luke, we see that Mary “went in haste” (Lk. 1:39) to visit a pregnant Elizabeth. But her love was “not simply a thing of the passing moment,” for she stayed about 3months caring for her cousin.
Physical Touch: Christ Himself demonstrated love in the form of physicality when “He came down from heaven, became a man, and offered His own life on the Cross.” God, a perfectly divine human, chose to humble Himself to our physical, human level in order to love us. What more is there to say?
Words of Affirmation: In the Imitation, Mama tells us, her children, “Many who are afflicted need the comfort of your words.” There are literally people who find compliments necessary to be loved.
Receiving Gifts: She goes on to tell us in the next sentence that “many who are unhappy need the help of your generous gifts.” We need to constantly give of ourselves, both physically and emotionally, to love our brothers and sisters.
Acts of Service: Finally, Mary glosses love and service by saying to her children “To limit the service you offer your neighbor is to evade rather than carry out the duties of love.” If we fail to serve others in any way, shape, or form, we fail to love.
God is Love. Sin is a lack of God. Therefore, Sin is a lack of Love. Let us take this weekend and practice love as Mary advises.
“Be ready to give all the help you can. Delay always means the loss of some of love's merit. Let your love be generous and extend as far as possible.” Imitation of Mary (pg. 78)
