Let you love me

 Something I’ve been thinking about the last week is acts of service. Sort of? Can I say it’s a mix of acts of service and the love languages? I really enjoy knowing how people want to be loved. I want to be able to love them the way they want to be loved and not just how I find it easiest or most enjoyable to love others. Communication is really important to me, and part of that is that when I want to love on people, I don’t want to just love on them. I want them to feel that love. 

But sometimes that can be hard because people don’t want to burden you and therefore it can be difficult to get them to tell you what they need/want. And I totally get it. I am often like that. 

Realistically I’m usually fairly easy (in my opinion lol). I value communication. I like when people respond when I text/email/call/video chat/etc. And I like one on one time, to talk. That is the best gift. I suppose more than that, I like when I feel like I can be myself. When people are willing to talk about hard things and not just kids and the weather. When the hard subjects aren’t just subtly skirted and ignored, I feel more able to be myself. I like when people give me the same trust and are open about themselves with me too. Give and take.

But that's an aside. Recently I’ve had the chance to serve people. In really basic and easy ways. But it was apparent that it was something that made them feel loved. And that makes it all the more enjoyable. Because all I want is to make sure that my actions, whatever they may be, are ones that lead them to an inkling of how much they are loved. 

But the only way that happened is because they were willing and trusted me enough to give me an idea of what they needed. And they were willing to let me do it. And I have appreciated that so much. I feel loved by the sheer fact that they are communicating their needs with me, and trusting me to help. Communication and trust. 

But it also has made me realize that I am not good at letting people serve me. And maybe that’s because that’s not usually how I look for or expect love. But by the same token, sometimes we need to let people love us how they like to love even if it’s not the way we prefer to be loved. And that is something we can do to help them feel loved, and feel good about communicating their love to us. 

Because it seems only fair that I be willing to open myself up to people in ways that allow them to feel like they can communicate their love and appreciation for me. Because I have so enjoyed having the chance to feel like my love and appreciation for others is being felt and heard. And I can love others by letting them feel that way too.

That’s perhaps easier said than done. But perhaps if I have it in mind, it will be easier to do.