Page 249 - The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

walks amid the quaint surroundings of Old Salem. The
Moravians have restored the village, which is more than two
hundred years old. Walking the cobblestone streets takes
one back to a simpler time. Strolling through the ancient
cemetery gives one a sense of reality about life and death.
In those years, we walked three afternoons a week and had
long discussions in that austere setting. She is a medical
doctor now, but when she comes home, she almost always
says, “Want to take a walk, Dad?” I have never refused her
invitation.
My son would never walk with me. He said, “Walking’s
dumb! You’re not going anywhere. If you’re going
somewhere, drive.”
“Quality Time” was not his primary love language. As
parents, we often try to pour all of our children into the same
mold. We go to parenting conferences or read books on
parenting, get some wonderful ideas, and want to go home
and practice with each child. The problem is that each child
is different, and what communicates love to one child may
not communicate love to another. Forcing a child to take a
walk with you so that you can spend quality time together
will not communicate love. We must learn to speak our
children’s language if we want them to feel loved.

I believe that most parents sincerely love their children. I
also believe that thousands of parents have failed to