What’s the difference between household chores and “stuff you should do” versus expressing love through Acts of Service?

This week my wife, Alta Lynn informed me that one of her Love Languages had changed from Quality Time to Receiving Gifts. I was a little shocked by this. She told me that she had experienced plenty of Quality Time lately because of COVID and so her Love Language had changed.

Alta Lynn and I were at Cracker Barrel having breakfast. We both have the love language of Quality Time so it was a perfect plan for us to do breakfast that Friday morning. About halfway through the meal my phone rang. It was my brother, who is also a pastor. My brother and I are close and usually have long talks on the phone when we call. About 10 minutes into the call, in between talking and taking bites of my breakfast, I noticed Alta Lynn. She was giving me “the look”. I know that look. I realized what I was doing, disconnected the call, and apologized. She said: “I just want you really here when you are here.”

Words of Affirmation - words that communicate to another person they are appreciated, supported, and loved.

Words of Affirmation are words that build up. Mark Twain said it this way: “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”

You might have heard it first at church or in a wedding ceremony, but most people are familiar with the Love Chapter in the Bible—1 Corinthians 13.

I had to learn generosity.

Growing up in my family meant living a scarcity mindset. Hold tight to what you have. Hoard—protect what you have. Generous? Not on the radar.

A Rolex! The watch being offered to me on the streets of New York City looked real and said “Rolex” on the face. And for only $20 that gold Rolex could be mine! But the key question was: Is it authentic?

The choices were overwhelming. The Duct Tape Bible, the Oilfield Workers Bible, the Sportsman’s Bible (camo cover), the Busy Mom’s Bible and many, many more. My friend had gone to Mardel to choose his first Bible, he didn’t realize there would be so many options.