Lovin’ On my Kids!

Last Updated on March 11, 2024

When I see the words “lovin’ on my kids” I envision wrapping my arms around them, breathing in their sweet scent (well, at least after a bath), kissing their foreheads and cheeks, and the giggling which spills forth from their precious little selves.

I love on my kids often, but a fair amount of time between snuggles I can be anything but loving. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, fussy and forget what a privilege it is to love on my precious children.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I’m trying to decide the best way to celebrate – to romance my children with God’s love.

A few years ago I cut out a bunch of paper hearts. On each I wrote either a Bible verse or a child’s attribute I loved:

I love Zach’s servant’s heart.

I love how Emma sacrificially loves on her siblings who aren’t feeling well.

I love how Peter never goes to bed without praying with me.

I love Elizabeth’s tender heart.

I love how Allison can make anyone smile.

On some hearts I wrote the ways God answers prayers and is working in our lives.Decorating into the wee hours was well worth my children’s happiness in the morning. Even my teenagers seemed to like it. In fact my teenage daughter wanted me to leave the hearts up indefinitely. They didn’t come down until the edges curled.

I want to do something a bit different this year–beyond cards in their lunches and hearts on the cabinets. How can I truly romance my children with the love of God?

I pray God would love my children through me. Sometimes I feel far from able to love these dear children adequately. My emotional tank is often running on low. But Praise God! His tank never runs low. I’m thinking what I need to do is love ‘em like Jesus!

• Like Jesus, I’ll spend time with the Father by myself so His love poured into me overflows to my children.
• Like Jesus, I’ll teach my children diligently – when we are home or in the car, in the morning and in the night.
• Like Jesus, I’ll try to model godliness and show my children through my actions, words, and even my thoughts how to live in a way that brings God glory and great pleasure. After Valentine’s dinner we can pray for friends, family, and even some of the difficult circumstances in which we find ourselves.
• Like Jesus, I’ll seek to be kind-hearted, compassionate, loving, and willing to expend myself for my children. I’ll offer them grace and mercy. But I’ll also love them through consistent and loving discipline. I’ll love on ‘em throughout the day with my words, actions and even my thoughts.
• Like Jesus, my love will not lessen because they are grumpy, fussy and difficult.

And all these things I long to do, I will do because God gives me the strength and ability.

I can absolutely love ‘em like Jesus, because Jesus loves me!

[verse reference=”Deuteronomy 6:5-9″]Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.[/verse]