Adapted from “Advent at the Kids Table” by The Welcome Table

Read: Colossians 3:14

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

To bind something means to wrap it up, or to hold something together.

You might think of wrapping a present, for example.  The ribbon and bow on presents were originally used to keep the wrapping from coming apart. Nowadays we use tape for that purpose and the bow is mostly decorative, although some folks do still hold things together with the ribbon itself.

You can also think of wrapping a baby in a blanket, or maybe you like to wrap yourself up in a blanket sometimes.  Blankets can help us feel cozy and warm, and even provide a sense of comfort and security. 

People use a needs and thread to sew things together – clothing, blankets, stuffed animals, and baby dolls.  That is also a way of binding things together so that they don’t lose their fluff or stuffing, so that they don’t fall apart. 

We can hold each other, and we can wrap each other up in love.  Hugs are one way we can do this, but even at a distance we can surround one another with love. We can mail cards of encouragement, or send messages with kind words.  We can draw pictures  for each other, and let people know that we think they’re special.   Using kind words, being gentle with each other’s feelings, and letting people know you care about them – these are all ways of wrapping people up in love.  It is one of the best and most beautiful gifts we can offer in our world.

God wraps us up in love.  Every piece and person of God’s beautiful creation matters and is worthy of love, and there is nowhere we can go where God’s love does not surround us with care and compassion.

• Talk about the things that make you feel comfortable, safe, and loved.

Wrap a present for someone in this season of giving. As you wrap the present, offer words of kindness to the recipient. You can say them out loud as you wrap, write them in a note for them to receive with the present, or say them quietly in your heart as you wrap, as a prayer for the other person.