Love: Best Taught by Our Actions

How do children learn to love?

Sally stood by the window watching Ava comfort her little brother. Because it was spring, the windows were open welcoming the cool morning breezes into the house. She could hear her daughter’s words, “Don’t cry, Josh. It’ll be okay. I’ll give you some of my candy.” She put her arm around his shoulders and hugged him.

Josh’s bowed his head. “I didn’t know it’d melt on the rock. I just didn’t want it mashed in my pocket.”

“Really, it’ll be okay. Let’s wrap it up and throw it away. Scruffy might get it, and dogs aren’t supposed to eat chocolate.” Ava began cleaning up the melted candy.

“Gran gave it to us. Will she be mad?”

“I don’t think so. Gran’s not like that. Now, let’s go see if we can find my chocolate.” As they walked toward the house, Josh reached for Ava’s hand.

Love: A Fruit of the Spirit

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)

How do children learn to love?

Let’s look back a few years when Ava was only four years old.

“Mommy, I broke the teapot Gran gave me.” Sobbing, she held three pieces of a beautiful china child’s teapot in her hands.

“Oh, Honey, let me see. I bet we can fix it with glue. Here, put the pieces on this paper towel.”

“But, Mommy, it’s broken. I’m sorry.” More tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Come sit on my lap.” Sara pulled Ava onto her lap wrapping her in a big hug. She sat silently as Ava cried. Finally, when she had cried out her sorrow, she looked up at her mom. “Can you really fix it? Will Gran be mad?”

“Yes, I can, and of course she won’t be mad. Gran’s not like that. Now, let’s find the glue.

How do we teach our children love? A forgiving spirit, a gentle touch, a word softly spoken.

Question: How did you learn to love? Think back to your childhood. Share with us an incident when you saw a demonstration of love that helped you form your understanding of this fruit of the Spirit.