- Words of affirmation: These are positive words that encourage people and raise their spirit. Words of affirmation give hope and do not judge. Consider calling your sibling just to say, "Hey, you've done a great job with being a parent while working at the same time." Or write on a friend's Facebook wall, "You're special, hope your Christmas is just as special this year!"
- Gifts: Yes, I did just say that love is more important than the gifts that I mentioned above, but when you give these gifts, expect nothing in return. Don't give cookies to your neighbour, and then ask them for a favour. Don't give a handcrafted present to your significant other, and then wonder why he or she didn't do something equally nice in return. Gifts should be an act of love given freely without expecting gifts in return. Why don't you give gifts to people who can't give gifts away? Give a twenty-dollar bill to the homeless person at the corner of the street, or sponsor a child through a non-profit organization beginning in the New Year. Maybe make some food and bring it to the homeless shelter to serve.
- Physical touch: Some people like to give love through physical touch, whether it be a kiss for their significant other, a hug for a friend, or just a comforting hand on the back when someone is feeling down.
- Acts of service: Acts of service are when you do something to help someone else - again, expecting nothing in return. For example, I have baked cookies for family and friends as their Christmas presents (this is a double act of love), expecting no gifts from them, and I've been spending much time in the kitchen making these cookies as special as I can, out of love, not hoping that someone would be giving me a container of goodies for this Christmas season.
- Quality time: This is actually my best love language…and also the love language I prefer to receive. I love spending time with other people. Quality time means actual "quality time" - this means your primary focus is on that person, not on the television, the activity that you're doing together, or the location of where you are. Quality time can include talking over dinner, sharing an activity, or choosing to venture out and explore something new. Quality time with someone says, "I care about you enough to take time out of day to make you know how important you are to me." Quality time can also include taking the time to write messages to someone, read their reply, and taking the time to make sure you respond to their message as thoughtfully and meaningfully as you can.
Celine Dion is a famous Canadian
singer, and the song, "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day" is a
favourite Christmas song of mine. Not only does Celine sing it beautifully,
but the message behind the song reminds us that we don't have to wait until
Christmas Day to bring out the best in us - the best should be brought out in
us, everyday.
Don't Save It All For Christmas Day
Don't get so busy
that you miss
Giving just a little
kiss
To the ones you love
Don't even wait a
little while
To give them a little
smile
A little is enough
How many people are
crying
People are dying...
How many people are
asking for love
Don't save it all for
Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love
everyday
Don't save it all for
Christmas Day
Find your way
Cause holidays have
come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...
How could you wait
another minute
A hug is warmer when
you're in it
And Baby that's a
fact
And saying "I
love you's" always better
Seasons, reasons,
they don't matter
So don't hold back
How many people in
this world
So needful in this
world
How many people are
praying for love
Don't save it all for
Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love
everyday
Don't save it all for
Christmas Day
Find your way
Cause holidays have
come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...
Let all the children
know
Everywhere that they
go
Their whole life long
Let them know love
Don't save it all for
Christmas Day
Find a way
To give a little love
everyday
Don't save it all for
Christmas Day
Find your way
Cause holidays have
come and gone
But love lives on
If you give on
Love...
Love...
In his book,
"The 5 Love Languages" - Dr. Gary Chapman talks about how each
person expresses "love" in his or her own unique way, and is more
responsive to receiving love in a certain way as well.
Since it is
Christmas, the "Season of Giving," lets give love to others. Love is
free, it doesn't cost any money (even though there are people who think
different). But like Jennifer Lopez said in one of her famous songs, "My
love don't cost a thing."
Giving love away
doesn't cost a thing. The only love that ever came at a cost was God's love
for us - when He sent his Son to die on the cross for our sins, out of His
sacrificial love.
Have you ever loved
someone so much, that you would send your spouse, your daughter, your son, or
even your closest friends - to save that person's life?
Amidst the shopping,
the baking, the planning, and the preparations of Christmas - the theme of
love often gets lost, and people forget that love is the most important gift
you can give away at Christmas. Love is more important than the expensive
present you bought at the department store, or that thoughtful gift you
handcrafted yourself, or even the cookies you baked for your neighbours.
While all those
presents are nice and do bring joy to others - love - in itself - can bring
greater joy, and plant better seeds in the hearts of many.
How can we give love
away this Christmas?
Dr. Gary Chapman
talks about giving love away in five different ways.
These are five
different types of acts of love that you can give away, but "don't save
it all for Christmas Day." Love is a gift that you can give away daily.
 |
| www.cotni.com |
Give love away everyday, because it's a gift that you can never run out of.
Taken from a friend Zoe on FB, who borrowed it from Kim Davies -
ReplyDelete1 Corinthians 13 – a Christmas Version!
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.