Love languages for you and I (and the little ones)

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The 5 Love Languages of Children by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell, MD is an easy read, but it's also 'hard'.  It's hard because it's good.  It's thought -provoking and opens your eyes on relationships, in-general and more specifically with children.  Have you read Gary Chapman's original The 5 Love Languages? I've read it many years ago and though I know what the 5 love languages are; physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts and acts of service; it's not something I make an effort in figuring out.  It is not until The 5 Love Languages of Children that I've put more mental effort in seeking out what it means and how to apply it.  It could've been age or just stage in life that the original The 5 Love Languages was just a book to read and to know about.  As to application, it didn't fit into my life - at least not yet.  I wasn't married or romantically involved with anyone at the time, and during the time I was more, shall I say, I was selfish (ain't we all in our 20s?). 


The 5 Love Languages of Children

Back to The 5 Love Languages of Children. This book opened my eyes and heart to not only my immediate family, but especially to the children around me.  Since this book focuses on relationships with children, it took a longer time for me to read and process the information I was reading.  From this book, I can assure you that this is a book not only for parents or parents to be, but it is a great read for ANYONE. I'm stressing the 'anyone' part because the 5 love languages applies to anyone, and does not limit itself to children alone.
We, as humans are made to love and to be loved.  As 1 John 4:11 says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."  I actually think this book relates better to me, as a married woman, than the original. Why?  I think it's because we were all kids at one point, and to some, our actions may continue to be child-like in some ways.  Plus, children are all around us, from our own, to niece and nephews, to friends' kids...and to top it all "children are our future" (from Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All").   This book will allow you to build, understand, continue and enhance the relationship you will have with one another - be it a child or an adult. 

Gary Chapman is the best-selling author for the Love Language series, as well as several relationship books.  One may say, he's the expert at the secret to love and relationships, and together with Ross Campbell, a doctor with authority on parent-child relationships, gave us readers a wonderful and outstanding book of merely 224 pages with advice and understanding of child-adult relationships.  What I like especially about this book, that's different from the original The 5 Love Languages,  are the examples/ideas an adult can try to enhance their relationship with the child if that is the child's primary love language, located at the end of each love language chapter.  It's food for thought and a great start.  With advance in technology and the shift of time spent online, watching TV or the age of over-indulgence, it is hard to see through to the basic necessity of love in relationships.  This book will be a guide to steer the relationship to a healthy path.

Even though there are some biblical verses as inspiration, this is a book for believers as well as for the secular audience.  You and I and anyone reading this book will benefit from the knowledge of both Dr. Chapman and Dr. Campbell.  I love how the last chapter of the book brings it full circle back to the adults.  It's important for the adults of the family to demonstrate a healthy love relationship.   The 5 Love Languages of Children  is the book to read - not only because it's a good read, but also because "Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord" (Psalm 127:3).  Therefore, cherish and learn to read their love language, so they feel your love. (And remember, little ones are not only for the baby, the toddlers or the tweens, but also the teens and those just younger than you.)  Another thought, what about reading from the other point of view, as the child in the equation? Something to think about.

Note: I received this book from Moody Publishers for an HONEST review. 


CONVERSATION

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