Tina Jurmu | The Shepherd's Voice February/March 2023 - Home and Family Article --
One book of the Bible is Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In the fifth chapter of that book, it says that love is a fruit of the Spirit. You can read in verses 22 and 23 of chapter 5 what the other fruits of the Spirit are!
What do you children think of when you hear the word “love?” In what ways can we show love to our family, friends and neighbors? Love can be shown and felt in many ways.
Think about when Mom and Dad make good food to fill your belly, or when they clean and fold your clothing, or when they create a safe and warm living space for the whole family. These are acts of love for you! Remember that parents work hard to serve their families and they show love when they do this. You can return the love by helping them and thanking them for all they do.
Sometimes love is shown by our parents through teaching a life lesson or through discipline to help us make good choices. Mom and Dad try to teach us right from wrong. Many adults, like grandparents and teachers, help teach us how we live our life as believers, and even this teaching is done because they love us.
We can show love to our family, friends, and neighbors by using kind words, helping someone in need, and thinking of others before ourselves! We can show love in our congregation and community by serving one another. We may hold a door open for another person, we can help with cleanup and we can be respectful of others and their property. We can sit with someone who is grieving, and we can listen to one who needs someone to talk to. All this comes from a heart that has love.
Love can be broken at times. That happens if we fall into disobedience, if we use unkind words, if we do something hurtful to another person or if we see someone in need and ignore them. We want to fix that broken love by having our sins forgiven in Jesus’ name and precious blood! Remember to use the gospel often in your home so that love is there, and that way we can help each other get to heaven! “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2, NIV).
Things to Visit About:
1. How do you show love to your family and friends?
2. Tell about a Bible story in which someone cared for another with love.
3. Sometimes we hear ministers say, “Love your neighbor.” What does this mean? Who is our neighbor?