Make a Valentine to God- while you teach about His love!

We love because He first loved us!  I John 4:19

Make a double-sided Valentine to hang this month as a reminder of God's love for us -- and our love for Him!

Valentine's Day gives us a great "hook" that captures kids' hearts and minds for Jesus.  Kids of all ages love to make Valentines, right? So while you have those doilies, ribbons and scraps of red and pink paper handy, add this one to craft with them-- and reach their hearts with words of truth that last far beyond February 14th.  This is one Valentine you'll want to keep and not send!

God is love. God loved us first. He calls us His own. He knows us by name. It's hard to stop once you begin thinking about God's great love, isn't it?  Isaiah 51:16,  Psalm 139:1, 1 John 3:1, Romans 5:8, John 3:16 -- but choose one or two that speaks of God's love in a way your child will best grasp. Print or write the verse you choose out so they can put it on one side of the Valentine heart. A 5 inch heart size works well for decorating but sizes can vary.

Then, on another similarly sized heart (another color is nice), have your child doodle and decorate it with markers, stickers and such with colors and things that express who they are-- what they like, etc. Then, on another piece of paper (contrasting color) trace their hand with fingers separated and help them cut handprint out.  Now, here's the fun part: fold and glue down the two center fingers like your hand is signing "I love you" in American Sign Language.  Have your child write "I love God with" on the palm and "all my heart", "all my soul", "all my mind" on the thumb, pointer and pinky fingers.  Teach your child that is how God wants us to love Him back! Glue the hand on top of the decorated heart, and insert a ribbon between the two hearts so it's ready to hang.

To make this activity even sweeter - do with all ages!  The beauty of God's love and the personalities of "all His children" will make you smile!