Have you ever tried your best to show someone you love them… only to feel like it didn’t quite land? You did the thoughtful thing. You said the kind words. You showed up. And yet something still felt missed.

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, I had the joy of sitting down with Dr. Gary Chapman to talk about his newest book, The Love Language That Matters Most. For decades, his message about the five love languages has helped millions of people better understand how to give and receive love. But as he shared in our conversation, discovering someone’s love language is only the beginning.

Each love language has what he calls “dialects”—deeply personal ways love is expressed and received. Miss those nuances, and even the right language can fall flat.

It was such a rich and practical conversation. We talked about:

• Why love often gets lost in translation—even when our intentions are good
• How to personalize love so it truly resonates with the people closest to us
• What this looks like in marriage, parenting, friendships, and even caring for aging parents
• How to pay attention to the subtle clues our loved ones are giving us

One of my favorite reminders from Dr. Chapman was this:

“The love language that matters most is the one your loved one is longing to hear.”

Isn’t that simple—and yet so profound?

As someone who cares deeply about loving well in our everyday lives, I found this conversation to be both grounding and hopeful. Love isn’t complicated, but it does require attentiveness. It asks us to slow down, to listen closely, and to serve the heart before us.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood—or worried that someone you love feels that way—this episode will encourage you. May the Lord give us eyes to see and ears to hear the hearts entrusted to us.

Connect with Dr. Chapman:

https://5lovelanguages.com/

Connect with Rachael:

https://rachaelkadams.com/

Download your Free Love Always Devotional:

https://rachaelkadams.com/free/

This month, we are featuring the Every Woman's Bible. This Bible has contributions from more than 100 women around the world and explores the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges, and uncommon faithfulness of women of the Bible, throughout history, and today. Through deep study and reflection, you’ll discover God’s heart for you and clarify your calling through personal stories, insights, inspiration, and study notes—all created by women, for women. Check it out. I think you'll love it!