The 5 Love Languages (by Gary Chapman)

I think it's pretty obvious that men & women often have difficulty communicating. Often times, unhappiness in marriage has a simple cause: we speak different love languages, according to Dr. Gary Chapman. While working as a marriage counselor for more than 30 years, he identified five basic love languages: 

• Words of Affirmation
• Quality Time
• Receiving Gifts
• Acts of Service
• Physical Touch

Some husbands or wives may crave focused attention; another needs regular praise. Gifts are highly important to one spouse, while another sees fixing a leaky faucet, ironing a shirt, or cooking a meal as filling their "love tank." Some partners might find physical touch makes them feel valued: holding hands, giving back rubs, and sexual contact.

My husband and I read this book early on in our marriage and it was interesting to see where we stood...my husband feels loved the best though physical touch & words of affirmation. And as for me, I feel loved the most through quality time & acts of service.

The key is, according to Dr. Chapman, that although our "love languages" may be different, it is important to show love to your spouse through their primary love languages, not your own.

If you are unsure what your primary or secondary love language is, you can take an assessment on Dr. Chapman's site to find out. And if you have not read his book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, you can find it on Amazon for only $8.70(and receive FREE Shipping)!

Happy Reading!