Here are a few super easy ideas how you and your children can still share Gods love and have a positive impact in the community while practicing social distancing. This season is an opportunity to teach your children to be thoughtful of others by:

• Washing their hands well before handling anything that will be in contact with someone else, to avoid bringing them any unnecessary germs
• Thinking deeply about what a lonely heart might be feeling before they decide to write their messages
• Sharing Gods love and hope with others
• Praying over the cards and posters before dropping them off

Love Your Neighbor

Have kids prepare cards with inspiring notes, verses of love, hope, peace, and trusting God amid the uncertainty. Allow them to get as creative as they wish, using items such as post-it notes, printer paper, or junk mail. Your children might also like to draw a picture or write a few kind words. Once the cards are done, you have two choices for delivery. First choice is for your family to deliver the cards to those in your neighborhood. The second option is to deliver a to your local nursing home. NOTE: Please do not contact a nursing home in advance so we do not overwhelm their phone lines and staff. Rather, place your cards in a bad and address a note to the “Activity Coordinator.” This will allow the staff to exercise a proper waiting period before distributing your cards. 

Here are some suggestions of a few verses you might like to have available for your child to use:

• Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
• Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.
• John 16:33  “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
• Psalm 46:1-2  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…”
• Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
• Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
• John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
• Psalm 56:9 “ …this I Know, God is on my side”
• Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I amthe Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

Here are some suggestions of quotes you might like to have available for your children to use:

• Fear is the glue that keeps you stuck. Faith is the solvent that sets you free.
• God keeps his promises. Trust Him.
• When facing a seemingly impossible task, do what you can then ask God to do the rest.
• God allows us to go through uncomfortable circumstances to mature, refine, and strengthen us.
• Remember that the One that spoke the world into existence is holding you now.
• You can turn your troubles into trust when you choose worship over worry.
• When we find ourselves caught up in a situation beyond our control, the solution is not figuring out how God can save us; it’s trusting that He will.
• The fog may seem thick, but the radiance of God will soon shine through.

Thank You Cards:

Have kids prepare personalized notes of gratitude for the people that are helping us. Here are some examples of individuals you can write to: the gas station attendant, the cashier at your local supermarket, your mail person, your pastor, a police officer, a nurse or Dr. that you know, a pharmacy technician, an EMT, a neighbor that has done something special for you, your babysitter or child care worker.

Words of Kindness and Encouragement:

This one is a family activity only. Set up everyone’s name on a piece of paper to write down points and set up a winning prize of your choosing. Encourage your children, and even mom and dad, to use as many loving, kind and encouraging words as possible with one another. Every time someone uses one of these words, they will get a point. If your children are anything like mine, you may like to add some simple rules to avoid a million words said at once in order to obtain that many points J. The one who collects the most points at the end of the day is the winner.

Rules you might like to include:

• Only one point per situation.
• No bickering, only you will decide who gets the points.
• Speak from the heart
• Set the beginning and ending times

Here are some suggestions:

• Great Job
• I appreciate you doing this for me
• I think you are very thoughtful
• You are amazing
• I thank God that he chose me to be your mom
• I am proud of you
• I love you so much
• I am sorry, I made a mistake, please forgive me
• Great thinking
• I love being your sister or brother
• You are important
• You have great ideas
• We can try it your way
• I would love to spend time with you
• It’s okay, nobody is perfect
• Yes, I will lend that to you
• The thing I love about you the most is …
• You are beautiful inside and out

Remember to tell our children how proud you are that they would care enough and use their time to bring hope to someone else.

Credit for producing this blog goes to Desiree Marroquin. She is a leader in the 4th and 5th Grade class. If you are interested in serving at New Day please contact Matt@ndcchurch.com