Looking in the Mirror
I took the Love IQ assessment myself and want to share the results with you. Even though I am the author of “Love One Another,” I am by no means perfect (just ask anyone that knows me). And, learning the One Anothers is a constant and life-long pursuit. I’ve been working on them for over 60 years now and I will continue to work on them. I want to encourage you to take this online assessment. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just be honest with yourself.
Here are my results, from strongest to weakest:
BE DEVOTED | 4.8 |
HONOR | 4.8 |
FORGIVE | 4.8 |
BE KIND | 4.5 |
ACCEPT | 4.3 |
OFFER HOSPITALITY | 4.3 |
ENCOURAGE | 4.0 |
PREFER | 4.0 |
GREET | 4.0 |
CARE FOR | 4.0 |
COMFORT | 4.0 |
SPUR TO GOOD DEEDS | 4.0 |
CONFESS YOUR SINS | 3.8 |
LIVE IN PEACE | 3.5 |
CARRY BURDENS | 3.5 |
WAIT FOR | 3.5 |
ADMONISH | 3.3 |
PRAY FOR | 3.0 |
SERVE | 3.0 |
Relative to the low end:
- I have to constantly work on my impatience (Wait For One Another). That score was not a surprise.
- In terms of ‘pray for,’ I realize that I lack consistency in my prayer life.
- Relative to serving others, I had to admit that though I do serve others, how much is driven by the fact that that’s part of my job – as a minister, I get paid to do it. But then I think about how I use my discretionary time. Usually my free discretionary time is spent on myself. On Saturday mornings, you will probably find me at Barnes & Noble instead of a food pantry.
- Relative to my low score on Admonish One Another, I realize that I have a difficult time confronting others. On the one hand, it’s just a natural expression of my personality – I’m more of a diplomat than a "confronter" – but then I must understand that at times, the best way to love someone is to admonish him or her.
- I’ve always been very quick to forgive and I don’t carry grudges. This is mentally and emotionally very liberating, of course. I saw it in my mother’s life and this greatly influenced me.
- Relative to honoring others, I really enjoy identifying what others are good at and giving them a platform to succeed.
- Regarding being devoted to one another, once you are my friend, you are my friend for life. Likewise, I’m very devoted to my wife and two daughters. I often tell my wife, Mary, “If you ever leave me, I’m going with you!”
The online tool is a self-assessment tool. It will reveal your opinion of your love-skills. The same tool can also be used to determine what other people think of your ability to love. Simply ask several people who know you well, to go online and answer the 76 questions with you in mind. This is only for the brave of heart.
I’ve asked my staff to contact four people who know me well (my wife, Mary; my assistant, Jean; one of my daughters and one of my friends) and ask them to take the tool – analyzing me, not themselves. They will combine all the scores (to maintain anonymity in the responses) and then post the cumulative scores in all 20 areas. Then we’ll be able to compare what I think of my “Love IQ” with what those who are closest to me think.
I’ve asked my staff to contact four people who know me well (my wife, Mary; my assistant, Jean; one of my daughters and one of my friends) and ask them to take the tool – analyzing me, not themselves. They will combine all the scores (to maintain anonymity in the responses) and then post the cumulative scores in all 20 areas. Then we’ll be able to compare what I think of my “Love IQ” with what those who are closest to me think.
