Lovin'

Have you ever read "The Five Love Languages"? I don't think I've read the whole book, but pretty much, it is about how people give and recieve love. The book lists 5 ways to give and recieve love: quality time, words of encouragement, acts of service, gifts, and touch.

When I learned about these gifts, it was a goal of mine to look at my friends and family and decide who has which gift--how can I love my friends and family in the way that they best recieve love? I had lots of conversations with them and I think that it has deepened many of my relationships because we have been able to love each other better than before.

For example, my friend Blabe. . .she is a touch person. She likes to hug and cuddle. Me--NOT SO MUCH! But, when I'm around Blabe and I know that she loves to hug, I wanted to work on that in myself so that I could better love Blabe! (I have a LOT of touch friends--Bristol, Evan, Tony, etc. . .not an easy thing for me, but something I'm definitely working on all the time!).

As you've probably read here (I think I've mentioned it at least 3 times here in my blog), or know about me, I am a quality time person. I mean, BIG quality time person. I have noticed that about myself EVEN MORE since I've moved here to Ghana. For me, quality time means any time that someone takes out of their day to spend with me. Now, being so far from home, it looks a little bit different for most people to "spend time with me". Now, it's an email update on the life of a friend. It's a text keeping me updated on the moment by moment life back home. It's the facebook comment that tells me I'm missed, or loved, or some funny anecdote about the day.

This week, I have spent a lot of "quality time" with people and I have loved it! I got to talk with Kat and Isaiah, Jenni, and my mom on the phone. I texted back and forth with Yona a bit. I got emails and messages from Katie, Bristol, Gina, Joanna, and T. I felt connected and loved. It's surprising how much this stuff makes a difference in my days!

When I was talking to Kat this week, I was telling her about my word for the season, "Dependence". This season, returning to Ghana, has been a little more of a transition than I expected. Kat told me that "dependence" is the perfect word for this season because it's not just about my loneliness or longing for a partner in this life ministry--it's about being in that place and depending on God to fill that need in me.

So, even though I have felt so loved by the people around me who love me well, I know that a big part of feeling loved for me needs to be my dependence on God who provides all of my needs. I need to work on spending more "quality time" with God so that I can be filled in that way--and then won't require (though I'd still enjoy it) it from so many back in the States. Good word, Katty!