Valentine’s Day originated as a Chrisitan holiday to honor two Christian martyrs named Valentine. Today we use it to celebrate romance and love. Either way, it is a great time to help children understand what love really is. Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love. It lists other characteristics, but there is a reason I believe that love is first on the list. Let’s examine three reasons why the fruit of the Spirit is love.

1. The fruit of the Spirit is love because God is Love

1 John 4:7-21 tells us that God is love. If God is love, then it makes sense that His spirit is first and foremost love too. Therefore, understanding love would be to understand God. And, that is no small task. But before we just give up on the idea we can tell our kids how God wants us to know Him more. and He wants to reveal himself to us in new ways every day. In 1 John 5:20, we read that Jesus came to give us understanding so that we can know God. Besides, Romans 12:2 tells us that God can transform us. Consequently, knowing God will allow us to know love. He wants us to know of His love because knowing the love of Christ, we are filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)

2. Love is the Greatest Gift

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul talks about faith, hope, and love abiding. But, he tells his readers that the greatest gift is love. It is interesting that this chapter never mentions God. It follows a passage where Paul is telling Christians about spiritual gifts and how they are to use them. the Corinthians were comparing themselves to one another. This is something our children do when they are growing relationships with others. Let’s face it, we do too. This comes from a lack of love. Christ-like love means we examine everything we do and make sure that it is done out of love. February and Valentine’s day is a great time to talk to our children about the motives behind their actions. Our desire to be loved by others usually outways the idea of showing love for others.

3. Love is given away. Love is service.

After writing The little Pot, I realized that when children were introduced to the idea of growing the fruit of the Spirit, they found it gratifying for the wrong reasons. As Little Pot continued to bear fruit for the potter, it began to take pride in possessing the fruit. Yet, fruit is not meant to be kept. If the fruit is not picked off of the plant when it is ripe, it will rot and take the nutrients away from the new fruit that needs to grow. That is when I realized there needed to be a second book about using our fruit for others. Therefore, The Tea Pot was written. By befriending Tea Pot, Little Pot learns that giving its fruit, or LOVE, to others is why it grew in the first place.

I once interviewed students about what they loved and asked them how they show love to others. It made for some very sweet conversations. Take the time to ask your children who they love and how they show it. Then, ask them about someone who may need love and think of ways that you can help them serve that person. As they do, they will be the hands and feet for the Holy Spirit. They will learn why the fruit of the spirit is love.

Here’s a short video I made with kids about what love is.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Be sure to subscribe on the right-hand side to receive updates on each new post on our Christian Children’s Authors blog.

Follow us for new book news, free resources, parenting tips, and encouragement!

Yes! I want the 7 steps to help my students become fruit pots!

Built with ConvertKit

This blog was created by Dawn Stephens. Her passion is to help children grow the fruit of the Spirit.

#christianchildrensauthors #christianbooks #christianauthors #christianwriters #christianteachers #christianbooksforkids #christianchildrensbook #christianchildrensbooks #christianhomeschool #love #valentinesday #dawnstephensbooks #dawnstephens #fruitofthespirit