Touchpoints of Love

Biblical love forms the foundation of a child's perspective and comprehension of giving and receiving of love (Gary & Anne Marie Ezzo, "Growing Kids God's Way", Growing Families International, 2007, pp. 47 & 53). When biblical love is in the life of a child, he or she will not be held back by the shackles of self-love, self-interest, and self-protection --- for "biblical love looks outward, not inward; yet at the same time, it satisfies all the inner needs".

I agree with the Ezzos that it is important for parents to know each family member's love languages. People express love in different ways. For example, some children's primary love language is gift-giving, that is, they affirms love from others when they receive little gifts. Failure to recognise this form of love language often lead parents to interpret children's requests for buying things at shops and stores as a sign of abnormal materalism. My elder daughter often has such requests when we are out shopping, which on hind sight, could be her affirmation of our love when her requests are granted. It's not the things that she yearns for, but our "I-love-you"s!

Other children may interpret love through the spending of quality time with their parents, their parents' words of encourage, or simply an exchange of hugs and kisses. The Ezzos have this advice for all parents: "Knowing a child's language of love is critical to the developmental process and pave the way for understanding and communication in the teen years".

Jesus Himself had demonstrated love with different love languages. He showed His disciples love through the pouring out of His life to them --- coaching and praying for them. More significantly was His agape love for mankind, when He gave His life at the cross as a ransom to redeem us of our sins so as for us to receive God's blessing of eternal lives when we believe in Him.

Dear Jesus, thank you for this valuable lesson on the touchpoints of love. Love languages is God-given and can be learned. Teach us not only to speak the language of love to our loved ones and those around us, but also to receive graciously all the expressions of love from others. Amen.

Agon: The Spirit of Competition

I had a very interesting lesson on ancient Greek culture last weekend. I brought Naomi and Nathan to the National Museum to visit the gallery and exhibition on Greek civilisation --- the "Greek Masterpieces From the Louvre". The exhibit ends its tour in Singapore on 16 Mar 08.

The museum guide explained that Greek civilisation was "agonistic", that is, founded on the spirit of competition. Rivalry is one of the driving forces of existence, and hence the emphasis on sports. Even the gods worshiped by the Greeks competed among themselves! Greek religion was polytheistic and there were more than 200 deities in Attica itself. Half of the Athenian calendar was devoted to the gods.

What does the Bible tell us? In Acts 17, Paul was greatly distressed to see that the city of Athens was full of idols, subtlely referring to the polytheistic religious practices of the Greek civilisation. Paul even mentioned in Acts 17:23 that the Athenians had even built an altar worshiping literally "an unknown god"!

As the world marvelled at the political and artistic achievements of ancient Greek civilisation, let us not forget God's reminder that it is He "who made the world and everything in it" (Acts 17:24). Images made by man's design and skill are worth nothing in God's eyes, no matter how magnificient they look. Our God desires true worship from His people.