If I am on a roll with a quilt sometimes I just guess. If I take the effort to walk fifty paces into the kitchen and scan the shelves, I can give him a more accurate assessment on the supply of peanut butter and salsa. He wants to get the right things, but it helps if I can offer him a clue. 

The other day I was out with the chickens when John called and he did his best to predict. He brought home eight bags of delicious food, including four jars of jam and no pasta. We already had four jams but no pasta. But whose fault was that?

In church this week the minister handed out cards with two lists on them. One was the Five Love Languages, and the other was the Six Essential Needs which were articulated by Tony Robbins in a workshop we took years back. People were invited to talk in small clusters about what worked for them. 

My twins told me something I had not realized, namely that one of them craves touch and the other especially loves words of affirmation. We snuggled in closer and I saved the knowledge in a sacred part of my heart. One person in my group was stumped. He did not know what his love language was. I didn't learn much, except to keep trying.

One of the benefits of identifying your needs is it gives the people who care about you a better target. 

Otherwise you may end up with a lot of jam and no pasta.