Gary Chapman's discovery of the "Five Love Languages" was a tremendous paradigm shift for the whole marriage enrichment field.

It provided a practical and easy method of learning to love your spouse in the way that they wanted to be loved, not the way you wanted to give love.

The ramifications were enormous and it is always good to come back to his Love Languages and remind ourselves that it is not just our spouse that has a Love Language. Each of our children has a Love Language, as do our other relatives, our friends, and our co-workers.

God bless your family and your marriage.

Does Your Spouse Treasure Receiving Gifts?

By Gary Chapman

Most wedding ceremonies include the giving and receiving of rings. The pastor says, "These rings are outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual bond that unites your two hearts in love that has no end." That is not mere rhetoric. It is verbalizing a significant truth - symbols have emotional value.

Visual symbols of love are more important to some people than to others.

That's why individuals have different attitudes toward wedding rings. Some never take the ring off. Others seldom wear their wedding band.

People have different love languages. If receiving gifts is my primary love language, I will place great value on the ring, and I will be emotionally moved by the other gifts you give me through the years. I will see them as expressions of love. Without gifts as visual symbols, I may come to question your love.

When you come home from a trip, if your spouse complains: "You didn't bring me anything?" Or, if your spouse seems deeply hurt when you forget to give a gift on a birthday, then you can know that his/her love language is receiving gifts.

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Today's article is based on the book, The Five Love Languages.