Today, I am so excited to have Elizabeth at Just Following Jesus sharing her heart in this space.  She continues to inspire me with her love for the Lord and for others.  May you be blessed as you read her words.   

It was a frustration to me growing up, the fact that Mama and I spoke two different love languages.
My love language is primarily words of affirmation.
Spoken words are great, but write the words out for me to savor, and I’m in heaven!
Mama’s love langage was acts of service.
She cooked, cleaned and stitched her love for us.

The older I get, the more I see that there’s a whole lot of Mama in me.
When I go to put my makeup on in the morning,
Mama’s eyes are staring back at me in the mirror,
Mama’s eyes right there in my face.

While I am pretty demonstrative and verbal in my love and affection,
I’m finding that Mama’s love language has also become second nature to me.
It’s the language I grew up with and I fall into “speaking” it without thinking.
Sometimes, I’m not sure those around me are fluent enough to interpret it though.

Does my husband know that having the house spic and span, with fresh sheets on the bed,
when he gets home from a trip out of town, means “I love you”,
just like my words and hugs and kisses do?
When our family comes home and gathers round the table for a family dinner,
do they understand what the extra care in setting the table nicely for them really means?

It’s in cooking that I find myself speaking Mama’s love language most often.
I know what each family member loves and I love to make it for them.
Oldest granddaughter adores a good plate of spaghetti,
only grandson thinks my homemade pumpkin bread is the best thing ever,
four year old granddaughter and her daddy both love my homemade bread and dinner rolls,
my other son-in-law loves my shredded pork burritos,
oldest daughter’s favorite food growing up was enchiladas,
the second born chose lasagna for every birthday dinner,
the youngest is a meat lover and thinks nothing beats a good medium rare steak,
the Hubs loves just about anything I set before him,
but the homey type meals, like a good pot roast, are his special favorites.

So, I put on my apron,
I tidy up the house and set the table,
I mix and stir, measure and bake, sauté and simmer,
and when family or friends gather round the table,
I hope they can translate the work of my hands into the words of my heart.

I care about you.

You are special to me.

I love you.

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Will you stop over to Just Following Jesus and say hello to Elizabeth?  You will be so glad that you did!