John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

The summer is coming to a close, but we still have a couple more weeks to fit in a couple more craft projects. This verse has always been one of my favorites, because it points to the past and the future. It reminds me of what Jesus did for me. "Amazing love, how can it be that thou my God hast died for me?" (lyrics from one of my favorite hymns). Jesus demonstrated the greatest act of love that is imaginable. He laid down his life for his friends. But not only that...he laid down his life for his enemies too. When I think of how much love Jesus has for me and for each of God's creations, I am humbled and I am inspired to let that love build up in my heart for others. That's the other great thing about this verse. It points to the future. It inspires me to have that kind of love for my friends (or my children or my husband or...). I want my kids to be humbled and inspired by that kind of love also. That is why I chose this verse for our next craft.

We started by reading the verse and talking about what it means. We talked about how Jesus demonstrated the "greatest love" and how we are called to demonstrate that kind of love to others. Then we talked about what it means to "lay down your life" other than to actually die for someone (i.e. putting others' needs and desires before your own).

Then I pulled out the paints and the canvases. I bought 11x14 canvases at Hobby Lobby (on sale of course) for about $2.50 each. I encouraged the girls to paint a cross and a heart to represent Jesus's great act of love, laying down his life for us, and to remind us of the kind of love that God wants us to demonstrate to others.

We completed the paintings in two sessions and I think they turned out beautifully, all of them. Great job girls! I plan to hang each of the girls' paintings up in their rooms and maybe hang mine in my craft room. Take a look: