The most important command is this…Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Mark 12:29-31
It’s a great time of year to remind your grandkids of these two greatest commands. The LOVE CHAIN below is simple to prep, easy for little hands, and easy to mail to grandbabies who live far away. It’s a 14-day countdown with a daily Bible verse about love, a question to answer, and a tasty little treat. (As Charlie Brown says, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!”)
Check out the video at the end of this post to se the strips in action. For now, here are a couple examples:
We love others because God first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Today, what is something you can do to show someone in your family that you love them?
The Bible says that love is never rude or selfish, and it does not get angry easily. (1 Corinthians 13:5) What are some things that make you angry? Next time you feel angry, remember that you can show love by not being rude when you are mad.
Step One: Gather & Shop
- 1 – Paper plate
- 1 – 3M hook
- 4 – Pieces of copy paper (white or colored)
- 14 – Individually wrapped treats (tootsie rolls, starburst, bubble gum…)
- 1 – Small candy bar or toy
- Tape & stapler
- Scissors
- Crayons or markers
Step Two: Print
Download and print the “Love Chain” pages by clicking the image below. I mixed it up with various paper colors, but plain white works just as well.
Step Three: Assemble
- Cut the strips apart.
- Tape a small treat to the back of each strip.
- Loop the strips together – in any order – and tape or staple to make a chain.
- Cut, color, and stick the love circle and hearts to the plate.
- Tape the bigger treat or toy to the plate.
- Poke or punch a hole in the plate and send the 3M hook home for hanging.
Enjoy the LOVE!
Beginning on February 1st, your grandkids will remove one strip each day until Valentine’s Day!
KRISTI is the author of the Before books and coloring books for children and the Your Soul To Keep one-year prayer book for parents of adults. She writes to inspire parents and grandparents to shine the joy of Jesus into the lives of their families and to laugh without fear of the future (Proverbs 31:25). She and her husband Tim live in Iowa where they love doing life with their sons and daughters-in-law, six grandbabies, and two very spoiled dogs.