Love is in the air. Let’s let it be in our family life as well.
Here are 5 ways your family can show love to others—and to one another–this week.
1. Remember necessary people.
Gather the gang for a brainstorming session. One by one ask each member of your family to answer this question: “Name the people you see throughout the year that help you do life.” Who can you think of? Teachers? The mail carrier? Your doctor, dentist, or optician? The neighbor who watched your dog when you’re gone? Your pastor? The lady at the bank or man at the car wash?
Now, brainstorm what little way you could show them love. Perhaps you could sign a thank you note and deliver it along with a gift card to a local coffee house. You could make a colorful poster where you each list one character quality you see in them. Or take and print off a crazy selfie group photo of your family and pop it in the mail along with a note that says, “You know who is thankful for you? This crazy bunch!”
Any simple way to convey your words of gratitude to those people we often take for granted.
2. Pick a pump or person.
Go on a secret love-giving mission. Park at a gas station and pick a pump that is not being used. Swipe your credit card (or pre-pay inside) putting some money on the pump. Then, watch from your vehicle as you see the smile when a random person discovers that somebody pre-paid for some of their gas that day.
Do the same thing at a drive through line for a fast food restaurant or coffee house. Buy a snack or toasty drink for all the members of your family in the car but also pay for the person’s order behind you. Have a ready made sign for your kids to hold up in the back window that says, “God loves you! Happy Valentines Day!”
3. Get crafty.
Spend a few minutes one evening this week making some old-fashioned Valentines out of construction paper and lace paper doilies. Deliver them to a nursing home during their dinner hour, passing out hugs as you do.
4. Unpack 1 Corinthians chapter 13.
For a fun family devotion, take turns reading 1 Corinthians 13 out loud as a family. Then, have mom or dad read it out loud again, but this time slowly. Whenever someone hears a phrase that they think describes another family member, they will raise their hand. Then, they will share with the family why they chose that person. For example: “I think Mitchell is patient because he was very nice to me the other day when he was trying to teach me to throw a knuckleball and I couldn’t get it right.”
Here it is in the Contemporary English Version:
What if I could speak all languages
of humans
and of angels?
If I did not love others,
I would be nothing more
than a noisy gong
or a clanging cymbal.
What if I could prophesy
and understand all secrets
and all knowledge?
And what if I had faith
that moved mountains?
I would be nothing,
unless I loved others.
What if I gave away all
that I owned
and let myself
be burned alive?
I would gain nothing,
unless I loved others.
Love is kind and patient,
never jealous, boastful,
proud, or rude.
Love isn’t selfish
or quick tempered.
It doesn’t keep a record
of wrongs that others do.
Love rejoices in the truth,
but not in evil.
Love is always supportive,
loyal, hopeful,
and trusting.
Love never fails!
Everyone who prophesies
will stop,
and unknown languages
will no longer
be spoken.
All that we know
will be forgotten.
We don’t know everything,
and our prophecies
are not complete.
But what is perfect
will someday appear,
and what isn’t perfect
will then disappear.
When we were children,
we thought and reasoned
as children do.
But when we grew up,
we quit our childish ways.
Now all we can see of God
is like a cloudy picture
in a mirror.
Later we will see him
face to face.
We don’t know everything,
but then we will,
just as God completely
understands us.
For now there are faith,
hope, and love.
But of these three,
the greatest is love.
5. Watch and re-inact your wedding and reception.
Have an old-fashioned family night of watching movie and enjoying a treat, but with a wedding twist. For fun, watch your wedding video and then, re-inact your vows. Stand together before your kids as they make up silly questions for you like, “Will you take each other for better or for worse, even when one of us kids is up all night with the stomach flu?” Or “Do you, dad, promise to love mom, even when she doesn’t have on make-up and has bed-head because she didn’t have time to wash her hair that day?” Don’t forget the kiss!
Then, enjoy some food at your personal family wedding reception–prepared by the kids of course! They can make a traditional cake or put out a buffet of veggies and dip or other finger foods. Be sure to let them decorate too with streamers and hearts and candles. Play some romantic music on Pandora or another app to set the mood. Or, choose some oldie tunes that were popular the year you got married. Push back the furniture and let the family dance in their own crazy way.
Happy Valentines Day!
Blessings,
Karen Ehman, KarenEhman.com
