Christmas

Make a paper chain

Creative crafts

Make a paper chain that “grows” during the month of December by adding a link when you notice family members acting like Jesus.

Begin by displaying a basketful of colourful paper strips in a central location. Let your children know that when someone is noticed sharing God’s love in your home, they will get to add a link to the paper chain. Write on each new link a summary of how God’s love was shared with others. For example, Ben waited patiently for supper to be served. He showed his love for Mom and Dad.

You can explain, too, that just as Christmas decorations make your home beautiful, your lives are attractive if they are “decorated” with Christlike traits like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, compassion, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Emphasize that these character traits are often linked to each other: when we are loving toward others, it produces a wonderful “chain reaction” and other people are encouraged to live in love too. The Bible says, “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4a). In turn, patience and kindness bring peace and joy to relationships.

Remind your children that it is the Holy Spirit living in us who makes us want to act like Jesus. His love in our hearts starts a chain reaction of more and more love being shared.

On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve, read through the links together and thank God for the many ways His love is evident in your family.

Relevant Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Galatians 5:22-26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.