In the last week I have read Joyce Meyer's 'Simple Prayer' and Gary Chapman's 'The Five Love Languages'. I've known of the Love Languages book for years but I've always been sceptical of any book that attaches a number to it...5 this, 7 that, etc. But I saw Gary Chapman on Joyce's programme last year and it rang true to me. So finally read it.
It needs further study, but I am definitely getting the children's love language book too. It was a surprise to me because I always thought physical touch was important to me but as it turns out quality time is much more important. It was equal first with receiving gifts which I knew was my other one. making me bilingual.
I love giving gifts...not just things i've bought but something at home that I've heard someone say they need, or something I can make. I always listen out for those things from other people and make a mental note so if I can get it for them or in case I find it.
My brother despairs sometimes when he comes home and finds his favourite blanket is missing or the exercise ball that was sitting there doing nothing is suddenly gone to someone who wants one just when he decides to use it :) I'm forever giving things away.
Joyce's book confirmed lots of stuff that I knew already. There was a story about a couple who were sure the LORD wanted to bless them with a child. The woman became pregnant, but miscarried. She had 3 more miscarriages. But they didn't give up and persisted so sure was their faith and were finally blessed with a child.
I lost a child - an entopic pregnancy. It was devastating because we had been trying for 2 years and within a day, I found out i was carrying a living 7 week embryo that we had to terminate. I can't imagine miscarrying 4 times.
I would be spewing and I would have given up after the 2nd child. How could they maintain a grateful attitude and persevere??? I would have declared Satan the winner and found another alternative like adopting.
We had been trying for 6 years before I had Caleb, but I had the entopic and a large ovarian cyst which meant my good ovary had no fallopian tube and then I was told I had more cysts and they needed to be removed before attempting pregnancy...so IVF was our last hope. But if it didn't work and we didn't produce any embryos then I would have given up and adopted.
The LORD asks so much of us sometimes, but nothing that he knows we can't cope with and he always provides a way out (1 Cor 10:13). Just amazes me how much some of us can actually cope with.
3 comments:
Great books! I have only skimmed through Joyce Meyers...but I LOVE her. And I used to do a teaching on the 5 Love Languages of children to people who took my parenting classes at a crisis center where I worked for 5 years. It was my favorite part of the classes I taught. We have owned his love languages books for years and refer to them many times. My primary ones are gifts and quality time. Hubby's is words of affirmation and my girls are: Courtney: gifts/quality time; Claire: acts of service/physical touch. It will be fun for you to figure out Caleb's. Usually by age 5 you should be able to tell. I simply asked my oldest "how do you know Mommy and Daddy love you if we couldn't speak with words?" and she answered: because you play with me and give me things! BINGO! I knew it but just wanted it confirmed by her little mouth! Have fun learning about the 5....awesome stuff!
Hi Faith, will try to remember that question when caleb is more able to express himself.
Your primary languages are the same as mine. Myles thinks his are quality time and acts of service. But he hasn't finished the book yet. Now I find myself wondering what everyone's primary languages are :) i think i might buy the children's book for my Mum, might help her to understand my sister more!
Two of my fav books of Joyce are 'Reduce me to Love' and 'Battlefield of the Mind'.
HI Tali: I have heare Battlefield of the Mind is excellent! It really helped a new friend of mine when she was dealing with some issues from her childhood.
I saw your comment and will post some of what I learned from the marriage workshop later today. My Sabbath was yesterday so today (Sunday) is gonna have to be a housework and get ready for the work week day! but that includes posting some of what the Lord put on my heart so.....check back with me later!
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