Page 51 - The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts

Love Language #1

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a
good compliment.” If we take Twain literally, six
compliments a year would have kept his emotional love
tank at the operational level. Your spouse will probably
need more.
One way to express love emotionally is to use words
that build up. Solomon, author of the ancient Hebrew
wisdom literature, wrote, “The tongue has the power of life
1
and death.” Many couples have never learned the
tremendous power of verbally affirming each other.
Solomon further noted, “An anxious heart weighs a man
down, but a kind word cheers him up.” 2
Verbal compliments, or words of appreciation, are
powerful communicators of love. They are best expressed
in simple, straightforward statements of affirmation, such
as:
“You look sharp in that suit.”
“Do you ever look nice in that dress! Wow!”
“You must be the best potato cook in the world. I love