LOVE BEYOND MEASURE

Decide if you’re going to play this game while packing your child’s lunch or preparing dinner. Set out all the ingredients you’ll need for the activity before you begin.

Say: Let’s talk about love! There are SO many different ways you can show you love someone, and one of the most popular ways is by giving gifts. It feels great to get a gift from someone you love, doesn’t it?

But love isn’t just about things. Love is when someone shows up to help you, they choose to care about you, and they respect you. These things are priceless and can’t be bought.

Say: Now, I want you to pretend this lunchbox/pot/pan is you. Each item we put in is one specific way you like to be shown love. (If your child is struggling, share one of your own examples.)

Examples for your child:

• When your parent shows up to your sports game
• When your parent makes your favorite meal
• Receiving hand-written letters
• Watching TV together
• Playing together

Every time you name a way you receive love, we’ll put an item in the lunchbox/add an ingredient in the recipe. I can’t place anything inside until you tell me a specific thing that would make you feel loved by someone else. I care about how you receive love, and I want to show you I love you how you receive it best.

When you finish the recipe, remind your child that love is an action.

Say: Even though we can say we “feel” love, at the end of the day, love is an action. It’s a choice. All those things you mentioned were actions someone else did to show they loved you. When someone does something kind or thoughtful, they are choosing to love us.

Feeling love is a wonderful thing, but it’s not magic. It doesn’t just happen. Jesus didn’t just tell us He loves us — He chose to die on the cross so we can have a relationship with God.

Share the hope of God’s Word and pray together with your child.