A homophone for Christmas

How understanding love languages can help you give their perfect gift.

Two words that sound the same when spoken, but have different meanings and spellings, are called homophones. A few examples include mints/mince, sleigh/slay or presence/presents.

Since Christmas is the time of year when many buy gifts (presents) for each other, I thought a guide to giving someone their perfect gift might be helpful. Love languages are ways recipients most feel loved or cared for.

According to Gary Chapman, the five love languages are gifts, touch, acts of service, words of affirmation and quality time.

So how do you work out what someone’s love language is? While everyone appreciates each type to a certain extent, there are usually two top ones. The easiest way is to observe how they express love or care for another person. If they feel loved or cared for when someone spends quality time with them, they will naturally tend to offer that to others.

If they feel loved or cared for when someone gives them a hug or a foot rub, they will often be tactile with their friends and family. If they always offer to do something to help others, chances are, one of their top love languages is acts of service.

So, based on the five love languages, here are some suggestions for gifting this Christmas that might meet their needs in more ways than one.

Touch

Give them a handmade coupon offering a foot rub from you, a gift voucher from a professional massage therapist, or hairdresser visit for a wash and blowdry. Your single friends/family will appreciate this even more.

Act of service

Deliver a homemade meal they can enjoy fresh or freeze for later. Alternatively, a gift voucher for a professional to mow their lawn, clean their windows or wash their car, is a service gift that frees up some of their own time.

Words of affirmation

Organise each member of the family, friend group or work colleagues to write something they appreciate or admire about that one person on a card. Collect the cards into a box or tin and present that person with the collection.

Quality time

The person who feels loved when someone spends quality time with them, appreciates the Quality part. This is the present of your presence. Turn your phone off, or on silent, and do something together that they enjoy.

Gift

Some people feel loved or cared for when someone takes the time to choose or make a present for them. They enjoy the whole package, the wrapping, card and what’s inside (plus the thought put into it). Hint: These people actually love Christmas, because it fits into their love language of receiving gifts.

---

I was going to do a photoshoot of me as a Christmas elf, to go with this guide to gift giving. But I realised that was what I wanted to give, not what you’d want to receive 😂😇

So, instead of giving someone mince pies when they would prefer mints pies, slay your gift list without the sleigh, and decide if your recipients would prefer, presents, presence or both.