Letters and The Word

With all due respect, Gary Chapman missed a few of the love languages that other people in the world use to express their sincerest affections for others. For the Hispanic mom, there is at least ONE MAJOR love language missing from the group. Sure, who doesn’t appreciate the occasional act of service or warm embrace of another, but if I am speaking of the daily currency I use to both express my love and to gauge the love of others, then it would 100% be FOOD.

If I make you a meal, or even if I meet you at a diner and buy your lunch, that is a bona fide indication that I love you. If I rolled a tortilla for you, fried some pinto beans, or slathered butter on some warm bread for you, you have my eternal devotion.

Food is the love language I have known – and USED – all my life.

And now all my children are trying the healthy options. “Mom, you’re the reason we’re all obese,” they say. And??? I’m confused. Why is this a problem?

You are well fed and have big enough clothes to stretch in. Where is the harm?

My happiest Mother’s Day was the time all my kids picked me up and took me to an all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant, the second was when we went out for fried catfish and shrimp.

Food is the most beautiful way to show love for another human.

Yes, Hispanics are also known for their loving use of la chancla to knock some sense into their children, and stories of el cucuy to help them practice falling asleep faster or to keep them from sneaking out of the house once we’re (the parents) asleep. But of all these, food for us is the love language that accomplishes the most.

So the next time you consider washing the dishes for Mom or bringing home a new coffee pot as the perfect way to show love, think again. Good things may come in small packages, but great love comes wrapped in foil.