​Our hike had some steep, difficult sections. I loved the challenge of negotiating them, especially climbing on the edge. When my friend offered me a hand up a challenging rock face, I declined politely. I knew they meant to be kind and many would gratefully accept the offer - but this would lessen my joy of achievement and exhilaration.  
Expressing our affection for others in ways we would appreciate ourselves is a common mistake. My mother relates the story of her disgust when given a Daisy air gun as a young girl one Christmas! We, too, can easily miss the mark with our intended generosity by not speaking the others' 'love language'. Dr. Gary Chapman espouses 5 love languages in his books: words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, affection and gifts. If we understand and apply this concept of truly thinking from the recipient's perspective, we are apt to become better givers and more appreciative recipients. I initially applied the love language concept as a parent to communicate love more deeply to my children, but it's also useful between adults to express our care for each other. 
The concept of reciprocal love is deeply rooted in Jewish and Christian faiths. Time and again, 'I will be their God, and they will be my people' recurs in the Bible. Although it is not a relationship of equals, our dedicated, heartfelt response is deemed an acceptable gift by our creator who knows and loves us intimately.  
Isn't heartfelt, reciprocal love what we all really want from our family and friends? Is there someone in your circle who would appreciate hearing their love language spoken by you today? Even if it's not exactly right, they're likely to appreciate the effort. Why not give it a go?

表示友愛的語言     （譯自Karen牧師的‘Love Languages')
 
我們的郊行有陡峭的，難行的部份。我卻喜歡接受克服這走迂徊路的挑戰，尤其是攀登崖石的邊沿。當友人伸出援手來幫助攀過險石時我會婉拒的。我知道他們出於善意而很多人會感激地接受的 － 但如此會減弱我的成功感和帶來的興奮的。
 
以自我的方式對他人表達友情是普遍的錯誤。我的母親就表示，年幼時於聖誕節得到一份Daisy型空氣槍而感厭惡！我們亦以為慷慨了而容易忽略用‘表示友愛的語言’的。
 
Gary Chapman博士在他的著作裏，採納五個表示友愛的語言：用確認成功的字眼、提出服務、共享快樂時光、表示關懷，和獻上禮物。
 
假如我們理解而實行這真正地為他人設想的道理，當然會成為較佳的授予者而得多些謝意的。我首先把友愛的語言應用予子女，讓他們感受深愛，但如此也適用於對成年人的關懷方面的。
 
互相愛護是猶太教教徒和基督教教徒的根深蒂固概念。在聖經裏，‘我是他們的上神，而他們是我的子民’是不時可讀到的。雖然關係并非對等，我們全靈全心地回應做物主的深切關心和愛護，應該視為認許的禮物的。
 
領會得到的，互相授受的愛不是我們在家庭和朋友間真正地需要的嗎？在你們的圈子裏，有沒有人讚賞你的表示友愛的語言呢？雖然有時處法不當，至少他們可能感受到那份努力的。為何我們不實行一試呢？
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表示友爱的语言     （译自Karen牧师的‘Love Languages')
 
我们的郊行有陡峭的，难行的部份。我却喜欢接受克服这走迂徊路的挑战，尤其是攀登崖石的边沿。当友人伸出援手来帮助攀过险石时我会婉拒的。我知道他们出于善意而很多人会感激地接受的 － 但如此会减弱我的成功感和带来的兴奋的。
 
以自我的方式对他人表达友情是普遍的错误。我的母亲就表示，年幼时于圣诞节得到一份Daisy型空气枪而感厌恶！我们亦以为慷慨了而容易忽略用‘表示友爱的语言’的。
 
 Gary Chapman博士在他的著作裏，采纳五类表示友爱的语言∶ 用确认成功的字眼丶提出服务丶共享快乐时光丶表示关怀，和献上礼物。
 
假如我们理解而实行这真正地为他人设想的道理，当然会成为较佳的授予者而得多些谢意的。我首先把友爱的语言应用予子女，让他们感受深爱，但如此也适用于对成年人的关怀方面的。
 
互相爱护是犹太教教徒和基督教教徒的根深蒂固概念。在圣经裏，‘我是他们的上神，而他们是我的子民’是不时可读到的。虽然关系并非对等，我们全灵全心地回应做物主的深切关心和爱护，应该视为认许的礼物的。
 
领会得到的，互相授受的爱不是我们在家庭和朋友间真正地需要的吗？在你们的圈子裏，有没有人讚赏你的表示友爱的语言呢？虽然有时处法不当，至少他们可能感受到那份努力的。为何我们不实行一试呢？