Showing My Love to Others

To recall the ways in which we can follow Jesus' example

The children will be able to understand that Jesus wants us to follow his example.

• Construction paper
• Markers, crayons, pens, pencils
• Chalkboard

• Review the adaptation of John 13:1-15: Jesus loved his friends very much. He wanted them to know this. He decided to show them. So he put some water in a bowl. Then he washed his friends' feet. Jesus said, "You say that I am your teacher. If I am, learn from me, I am your friend. If I wash your feet, you should wash the feet of others. Treat others as I treat you."
• Have the children listen quietly as you read the passage aloud. After the reading, invite volunteers to share what they can learn from the passage (to treat others as Jesus treated his apostles).
• Then say: When we help others, we are being like Jesus.
• Ask the children to share ways in which they can show their family, friends, and community how to love others. Write the children's ideas on the board.
• Once you feel the children have thought of enough ideas, invite them to choose one idea that they can do in their observance of Holy Week.
• Provide each child with coloring materials and construction paper as they plan how they will show love to one another in the coming week.
• Next, encourage the children to illustrate the action they plan to carry out (helping mom with the groceries, setting the table, sharing a snack with a friend, and so on).
• Have the children write somewhere on their illustrations: Jesus shows me how to love others.
• Encourage the children to decorate the room with their illustrations. The pictures can serve as reminders of all the ways in which they can be like Jesus.
• At the end of the activity, invite the children to form a seated circle.
• Ask each child to share how they plan to show their love for others as part of their commitment to remembering Jesus' teachings.

Art/Space Smart, People Smart, Self Smart, Word Smart

Prepare a list of ways in which the children might be able to show their love to family and friends in case they have difficulty thinking of ways on their own.