3 Faith-Building Valentine’s Day Ideas for Your Grandchildren                 

In elementary school, Valentine’s Day brought shoe boxes covered in pink construction paper and red hearts, pastel conversation candies, and Valentines from classmates and family. In high school, sweetheart carnations were the thing. Today, Valentine’s Day is another chance to say I love you to the family from parents down to the grandkids. 

But don’t stop there. 

Valentine’s Day offers the opportunity to model how to love well, to share family stories, and to love on God too. This week, we’ll hit love languages, marriage and the gift of partnership, and giving to others, even and especially, to God. 

1. Valentine’s Day and Love languages

Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages, hit the press in the early 90s. Chapman discusses five ways people tend to express and receive love:

• Words of affirmation
• Quality time
• Receiving gifts
• Acts of service
• Physical touch

If you’ve never thought about it, now’s the time. What’s your love language? 

Now, move to your spouse, your own children, their spouses, and the grandchildren. We tend to love others the way we want to be loved. So, study them. How do they love? Chances are, you’re witnessing their love language in action. If you’re not sure, ask them. Because if you are working from your love language and not theirs, you are missing an opportunity to connect. 

Here’s how this can hit or miss. 

One of my husband’s love languages is acts of service. He would often take a task off my to-do list as an act of service to me. The only problem was my love language isn’t acts of service. It’s quality time. He’d get frustrated because I didn’t fully appreciate his service and I was frustrated because he was busy “serving me” when I just wanted to spend time together. 

Flipping it, because I know acts of service are meaningful to him, and I know that he hates to scoop the dog poo, I scoop most days as my act of loving service for him. Win-win. I’ve met him in his love language, and he escapes poop detail. 

Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” So, identify your love language, and discover theirs too. 

2. Valentine’s Day, Marriage, and Partnership 

Valentine’s Day is a chance to share about partnership. Genesis 2:18 reads, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” By helper, God meant a partner. Someone with complementary strengths. St. Valentine also attached a very high value to marriage. We are better together (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Valentine’s Day is a great time to share family stories of love and marriage. 

How did you meet your spouse? 

Do you have any good stories related to your courtship and marriage? 

How did you propose? 

Any unusual honeymoon stories?

We went to Washington, D. C. for our honeymoon—and sat in on the Iran-Contra hearings. Yeah, I still give my husband a hard time about that one. 

Valentine’s Day is also a great time for you to affirm your child’s partner. Once you learn their love language, you’ll know just how to make them feel treasured. This example of loving your child’s spouse models so much to the grandkids: 

• Your commitment to your child. 
• Your affirmation of their choice for a mate. 
• Your commitment to the son- or daughter-in-law as part of the family. 
• Your affirmation of God’s view of marriage.

What if your feelings for your child’s spouse is less than? Less than Christlike?

Pray through it, but bless. Speak life. Ask God to show you what He sees in them, then go with it. Growing up, when I spent the night with my grandparents, my grandmother would say terrible things about my mother in her absence. I’ve never forgotten it. And they won’t either.

Don’t be that grandparent.

3. Valentine’s Day and Valentines, Of Course

Who might need a Valentine? 

Obviously, the grandchildren do, but brainstorm with them ahead of time about who might not be receiving many Valentines. Neighbors, especially the elderly or a single parent. Nursing home residents. First responders. Caregivers. The homeless.

And don’t forget God.

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV), “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” 

What would best communicate your (and your grandkids’) love to Him? 

If you were to tell God how special He is, what would you do and how?

Would you dance? My daughter would.

Would you sing or put on some worship music?

Would you go outside and take a walk? Is nature your connection point with God?

Would you write to Him?

Would you pray through a psalm or read back His word to Him?

Are you a gift giver?

Do you prefer service?

How do you tell Him “I love you”? Are you encouraging the grandkids to do the same?

Now, let’s flip it. Are you aware of how God loves you? 

Are you looking for His Valentine? Have you challenged the grandkids to look?

A sky that reflects a palette of colors?

An encouraging word from someone about something no one knew about?

A hug when you needed one? Even if it dripped with jelly or chocolate syrup from a little one’s hands?

In the coming week, get your game plan together. Don’t put pressure on yourself to do them all. Choose one that resonates with you. 

• Identify your love language and the love language of those closest to you. Plan your Valentines accordingly. 
• Talk up marriage and affirm God’s gift of partnership. 
• If you are able, work with your grandkids to spread some love. Bake cookies. Make some crafts. Create some cool cards.  Don’t forget to include God in your giving.

Let’s go to Him now: Father God, show us how best to demonstrate to each person how loved and valued they are. Give us favor, direction, and open our eyes to see what You have for us. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you have a favorite Valentine’s Day activity you do with your grandkids, please share with our grandparent community in the comments below.

Bring God into the Valentine conversation this year. And be on the lookout for God’s Valentine to you. 

Resources for Faith-Building Valentine’s Day Ideas for Your Grandchildren

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

St. Valentine the Kindhearted by Ned Bustard (biography of St. Valentine)

Valentine Download (Includes the crafts and food suggestions below)

Crafts:

Invisible Ink Valentines I love this idea but let your grandkids do the decoding. Include some watercolors and a brush so they can find your secret message. 

Celery Heart Valentines Craft cute cards with celery hearts and tempera paint.

Food:

For an easy and elegant cookie decorating activity, start with sugar cookies. Make your own, buy pre-made, or just slice and bake. Just get some cookies. 

Dip them in chocolate. White, milk, dark. You pick. I use the chocolate melts in the baking section of my grocery store. You can dip them halfway or coat the front or back. 

Then sprinkle with a colorful Valentiny topping. 

Check your grocery store or Amazon. Even very young children can help and if you have older grandkids, they can get fancy. Either way, you’ll have fun and end up with pretty, yummy treats. (Rice Krispie treats are easy too.)

Sugar cookies

Valentine sprinkles

Melting chocolate

Next week: Go BIG! G: How to Become a Grandparent Who Stands in the Gap and Partners with God.