1
Show Your Love Day
One way to show love to God is to do kind things for others. (Read Matthew 25:35-46.) In fact, Jesus said the way to know if people are His disciples is if they have love for each other (John 13:35).
Ask:
What are some ways you can show love to others? (do a chore for them, play a game with them, set the table, read a book with them, give them a small gift, give them a hug or kiss, etc.)
Declare one day of the week as “Show Your Love Day.” Cut out a bunch of red hearts or buy some heart stickers or cut out small squares of paper and write “love” on them. Put these in a basket on the table and tell the kids to look for ways to show love to others. When anyone sees this happening, they are to run to the basket and give a heart to that person.
Celebrate the many ways they showed love together that evening by making heart shaped cookies (of course, the cut and slice kind from Pillsbury).
2
Real Love?
Since this week is April Fool’s Day, add some fake food to your meal. Cut and shape green and orange Starbursts or taffy into peas and carrots. Make mashed potatoes from vanilla pudding and add a yellow Starburst for the butter on top. Or just use some fake food from your kids’ kitchen sets.
Ask:
- How would feel if someone pretended to like you, but talked about you behind your back or acted mean toward you? (mad, disappointed, hurt, etc.)
- What are some characteristics of real love? (Look in 1 Corinthians 13. Read it [or ask an older child to read] and have them listen to what real love is like.)
3
Creative Review
Memorize Psalm 100:5
"For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations."
Write each of the three phrases of this verse on a piece of paper (8 ½ X 11 are fine). If your kids know how to write, let THEM write the phrases on pieces of paper. Give one to each person and let that person say that phrase to recite and review the verse. Switch pieces of paper and people so others can learn the different phrases. Then say the verse in different ways: cowboy voice, cheerleader style, opera style, referee style, baby style, etc.
Every thing you teach your kids about God (He is loving, holy, good, merciful, etc.) should make it easier for them to trust Him. As they get to know Him, hopefully they will want to love and serve Him.
4
"Real Love Requires Action."
Real love requires action. Tell the following story - feel free to embellish it as I had to edit it to fit in this space. Taken from The Moral Compass, edited by William J. Bennett
There was a very wise and good king who lived long ago across the sea. He did some strange things, but he wanted to teach his people how to live. He noticed that many people complained and expected others to do things for them and solve their problems.
One night while everyone slept he placed a LARGE stone in the road in front of his palace. Then he hid and waited to see what would happen.
First came a farmer loaded down with grain. "Well, whoever saw such carelessness!" he said crossly as he drove around the stone.
Soon after a soldier came by who did not see the stone so he struck his foot on it and went sprawling in the dust. He got up, dusted himself off and stormed angrily at the lazy people who left the stone in the road. He never thought of moving the stone, but went on his way.
Others came by and complained about the stone, but no one did anything about it. The king watched from his hiding place.
At last, at nightfall, the young miller's daughter came by. She had been working at her dad's mill grinding corn since early that morning and was very tired. She saw the stone and said to herself, "It is almost dark. Someone could trip over this stone and get badly hurt. I wouldn't want that to happen. I will move it out of the way."
So she tugged and pulled and pushed at the heavy stone. It was hard to move, but at last she moved it out of the road. To her surprise, she found a box underneath. On the box was a note: "This box belongs to the one who moves the stone."
She opened the lid and found it was full of gold! She ran home with a happy heart.
Ask:
Why did the young girl move the stone? (she didn't want anyone to get hurt)
How was she rewarded? (with the box of gold)
Real love requires action!
Read 1 John 3:16-18. (By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.)
How did God show His love for us? (by giving up - laying down His life for us)
How does the Bible say we should express love? (by our actions)
How can we show action when we see a need? at home? at school? at church? in the neighborhood? (Do something instead of waiting for someone else to do it!)
5
Simple TLC
Choose a simple project to show love to someone this week. Brainstorm with the kids (They may have great ideas and will own the idea more if they are involved in the planning.)
Some suggestions:
Plant flowers, weed the garden, cut the grass and help care for an elderly neighbor's yard.
Have a yard sale and/or lemonade stand and donate the money to a special cause.
Make a meal and card for someone who has been sick and needs some "tender loving care."
6
Five Love Languages
Gary Chapman talks about five ways (languages) to give and receive love -
- touch (hugs, kisses, pats, etc.)
- gifts (can be inexpensive, but shows thought)
- quality time (one-on-one time totally focused)
- words of affirmation (You are smart, I like the way you... etc)
- acts of service (help with the dishes, making meals, driving them to places, etc.)
See if you can determine each family member's "love language." (Google "five love languages for kids" and there are some guides available to help you.)
Put each person's name in a hat and let each one choose a name. Challenge each one to "speak" that person's love language at least once in the coming week.
D6 Family
D6 Conference
Network: