28-Day Love Challenge

We always notice, but how often do we really think about our own personalities and those of the people in your family and how you connect (or clash)?

Our pastor did a series of classes on leadership and relating, and one of the topics was personality types and how they relate to each other.   He used the animals model of the "4 Temperaments" - Lion, Otter, Beaver, Golden Retriever - which is way more relatable than the original terminology. You can find something similar here if you are interested: https://kindredgrace.com/temperaments/

Your personality type affects how you communicate.  How do you deliver a message, and how is it received?  How do you communicate love and affection?

(If you haven't read The Five Love Languages - not just the original but also the teens and kids editions - I'd highly recommend all three!   Another great book is "Hold On to Your Kids".)

Quite a few years ago now, I read The Love Dare after watching the movie Fireproof.  I liked the concept of a pre-written plan to follow, and I wrote a family version as a challenge for a moms' Bible study group I was running.  I've pulled it out and put all 28 days together here in one post.  I hope you find it helpful in building connection with your family and showing love together!  Each day includes a series of ideas for loving God, your spouse, your kids, yourself, and the world - see how many you can do each day.

Family Love Challenge Day 1!

• Loving God:  Meditate on Psalm 118:24
• Loving Your Spouse: Make his favorite meal (and share it!)
• Loving Your Kids: Ask, "What is one thing we can do together this month?" (and plan for it!)
• Loving Yourself: Make a cup of your favorite tea (and enjoy it while it's still hot!)
• Loving the World:  Tell at least one person that you are praying for him/her today (and do it!)

Family Love Challenge Day 2!

• Loving God:  Really listen to "To God be the Glory" by Fanny J. Crosby
• Loving Your Spouse: Write him a love letter
• Loving Your Kids: Kiss your children while they sleep 
• Loving Yourself: Sign out a new book from the library and read for fun (or pick up one from your shelf which you've been meaning to read)
• Loving the World:  Tell at least one person that you asked God to help him/her have a good day.

Family Love Challenge Day 3!

• Loving God: Read and think about those who worshiped God in 1 Chronicles 16:8-13, 23-34.
• Loving Your Spouse: Give him a back rub or foot rub
• Loving Your Kids: Hug your child three times today
• Loving Yourself: Take a bubble bath or long shower (kid free!)
• Loving the World: Send at least one person an encouraging Bible verse, meme, or article that you think will be relevant to them.

Family Love Challenge Day 4!

• Loving God: Listen to "This is My Father's World" by Maltbie D. Babcock 
• Loving Your Spouse: Find out his love language (From The 5 Love Languages)
• Loving Your Kids: Ask, "How was your day today?" and actively listen to the answer.
• Loving Yourself: Take a walk
• Loving the World: Invite at least one person to have coffee or come to your place for dinner (just for a visit).

Family Love Challenge Day 5!

• Loving God: Meditate on Psalm 95:1-7
• Loving Your Spouse: Extend grace, instead of criticism.
• Loving Your Kids: Write a note and tuck it into their lunchbox (or under their pillow)
• Loving Yourself: Listen to an encouraging/helpful podcast
• Loving the World: Write a thank you note to God for someone. (Consider sharing it with them!)

Family Love Challenge Day 6!

• Loving God: Meditate on the song "As the Deer" by Martin Nystrom
• Loving Your Spouse: Do his least favorite chore as a surprise
• Loving Your Kids: Send your child a card in the mail
• Loving Yourself: Unplug from social media for the day
• Loving the World: Ask at least one person, “Is there anything I can include for you in my prayers today?”

Family Love Challenge Day 7!

• Loving God: Meditate on Isaiah 53:1-12
• Loving Your Spouse: Leave an encouraging note in his car, reminding him that you are his biggest fan
• Loving Your Kids: Teach your child something new that they can do on their own
• Loving Yourself:  Cook a healthy meal at home
• Loving the World: Ask at least one person, “Is there anything I can do to help you today?”

Family Love Challenge Day 8!

• Loving God: Meditate on the lyrics to "How Great Thou Art" by Carl Boberg
• Loving Your Spouse: Make a conscious choice to "Pick your battles!"
• Loving Your Kids: Post something on your social media page about something great your child did today.
• Loving Yourself:  Listen to your favorite album (instead of Baby Shark yet again!)
• Loving the World: Tell at least one person, or share on Facebook, one reason you love your church.

Family Love Challenge Day 9!

• Loving God: Meditate on Revelation 4:8-11.
• Loving Your Spouse: Genuinely compliment him
• Loving Your Kids: Play a game together.
• Loving Yourself:  Clean out your closet and donate what you don’t want or what doesn't fit you and make you feel beautiful.
• Loving the World: Express appreciation to a church leader for his/her labors

Family Love Challenge Day 10!

• Loving God: Close your eyes and listen to "I Stand in Awe" by Mark Altrogge
• Loving Your Spouse: In His Bible, put sticky notes of verses you are praying for him
• Loving Your Kids: Have your child help you make dinner
• Loving Yourself:  Paint your nails
• Loving the World: Make a call or send a text: “I just wanted to see how you’re doing today”

Family Love Challenge Day 11!

• Loving God: Meditate on Daniel 2:20-23
• Loving Your Spouse: Let him watch a sporting event uninterrupted
• Loving Your Kids: Tell your child you are proud of him/her, and why
• Loving Yourself:  Make a mood/inspiration board for your office
• Loving the World: Smile and give a warm hug to someone who has struggled lately

Family Love Challenge Day 12!

• Loving God: Listen to "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand" by Jennie Wilson 
• Loving Your Spouse: Plan an at home date
• Loving Your Kids: Take each of your children out for breakfast or lunch – just the two of you.
• Loving Yourself:  Teach yourself something that you’ve been wanting to learn
• Loving the World: Take a meal to someone who has been having a hard time

Family Love Challenge Day 13!

• Loving God: Meditate on 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
• Loving Your Spouse: Watch a movie he wants to see
• Loving Your Kids: Plan a scavenger hunt around the house for a fun surprise
• Loving Yourself:  Write down five things you’re grateful for
• Loving the World: Send a note of praise to a young person in the church

Family Love Challenge Day 14!

• Loving God: Listen to "Our God, He Is Alive" by Aaron W. Dicus
• Loving Your Spouse: Make his favorite dessert
• Loving Your Kids: Hang streamers and balloons in your child’s room while they’re at school.
• Loving Yourself:  Visit the local animal shelter and spend some time petting puppies
• Loving the World: Send a note of encouragement to a young parent in the church

Family Love Challenge Day 15!

• Loving God: Meditate on John 18:12-19:37
• Loving Your Spouse: Write a love note on the bathroom mirror with dry erase markers.
• Loving Your Kids: Plan a movie night for your kids and a few of their friends
• Loving Yourself:  Make an inspirational gallery for your home (print out quotes from the internet)
• Loving the World: Do a random (even little) act of kindness for a neighbor

Family Love Challenge Day 16!

• Loving God: Listen to "Just as I Am" by Charlotte Elliott 
• Loving Your Spouse: Make a play-list of songs selected just for him
• Loving Your Kids: Have each family member write something they love about the others and share them at a family dinner.
• Loving Yourself:  Do a gentle stretching workout
• Loving the World: Send a thank you note to a former teacher who made a difference in your life.

Family Love Challenge Day 17!

• Loving God: Meditate on Romans 8:31-39
• Loving Your Spouse: Take a moment to thank him for giving great advice (or whatever is appropriate)
• Loving Your Kids: Add candy conversation hearts to your child’s cereal.
• Loving Yourself:  Forgive yourself for something you feel you have failed at, and give yourself a fresh start.
• Loving the World: Give a larger than usual tip to someone with a note that says “thank you.”

Family Love Challenge Day 18!

• Loving God: Listen quietly to "Creation Calls" by Brian Doerksen 
• Loving Your Spouse: Stop what you’re doing and look your spouse in the eyes when he's talking to you.
• Loving Your Kids: Set an example to make saying “I love you, please, and thank-you,” part of your family’s daily vocabulary.
• Loving Yourself:  Buy yourself flowers or a plant that makes you smile when you look at it.
• Loving the World: Send a thank you note to someone who has made a difference in your life.

Family Love Challenge Day 19!

• Loving God: Meditate on Psalm 18
• Loving Your Spouse: Make an A to Z list of things you love about him. (Share it, or just keep it as a reminder)
• Loving Your Kids: Take them to an indoor playground.  Stay as long as they want to.
• Loving Yourself:  Make a new good habit.
• Loving the World: Do something nice for your child’s teacher – have your child help.

Family Love Challenge Day 20!

• Loving God: Listen to "God of Wonders" by Third Day
• Loving Your Spouse: Take him out on a lunch date – just the two of you.
• Loving Your Kids: Compliment your children publicly.
• Loving Yourself: Pick your favorite affirmations and write them on sticky notes. Put those sticky notes where you’ll see them every day.
• Loving the World: Call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while

Family Love Challenge Day 21!

• Loving God: Meditate on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
• Loving Your Spouse: Do something nice for him – have your children help with the planning and with doing it.
• Loving Your Kids: Help them do their chores today
• Loving Yourself: Buy yourself a good multivitamin and vitamin D supplement - and take them every day!
• Loving the World: Pay it forward at a drive-thru

Family Love Challenge Day 22!

• Loving God: Listen to "Oceans" by Hillsong United
• Loving Your Spouse: Declutter an area that you know has been bugging him.
• Loving Your Kids: Let them take a bubble bath with your special bath products.  Wash & condition your daughters' hair, brush & braid it. 
• Loving Yourself: Take a nap.
• Loving the World: Compliment a random stranger

Family Love Challenge Day 23!

• Loving God: Meditate on 1 Samuel 2:1-10
• Loving Your Spouse: Send your spouse a flirty text in the middle of the day
• Loving Your Kids: Find something that makes you laugh and share it with your kids.
• Loving Yourself:  Take 10 or 20 minutes out of your day and do absolutely nothing but rest and daydream.
• Loving the World: Find any way you can to help someone today.

Family Love Challenge Day 24!

• Loving God: Listen to "Breathe" by Jonny Diaz 
• Loving Your Spouse: Complain about nothing today
• Loving Your Kids: Take a silly picture together
• Loving Yourself:  Buy yourself some new undies.
• Loving the World: Share an old photo and a memory with an elderly family member.  And let them share with you.

Family Love Challenge Day 25!

• Loving God: Meditate on Psalm 95
• Loving Your Spouse: Take a walk together
• Loving Your Kids: Turn up the music and dance with your kids
• Loving Yourself:  Get your hair cut, or touch up your color, or just take the time to style it - whatever makes you happy.
• Loving the World: Reach out to someone at your church who always seems to reach out to others.

Family Love Challenge Day 26!

• Loving God: Listen to "Holy, Holy, Holy" by Reginald Heber  
• Loving Your Spouse:  Turn off your electronics when you are home together
• Loving Your Kids: Share a memory from your own childhood that relates to something they are struggling with
• Loving Yourself:  Do something that scares you
• Loving the World: Celebrate and congratulate someone's accomplishment

Family Love Challenge Day 27!

• Loving God: Meditate on Psalm 148
• Loving Your Spouse:  Look at photos of yourselves when you were younger.  Make a collage of your "couple photos".  Do you need a current one?
• Loving Your Kids: Write down all the things they are good at.  Ask others to contribute.  Read your kids the lists and let them keep them.
• Loving Yourself:  Wake up ten minutes earlier than you normally do and drink your coffee (or tea) a little more slowly than usual.
• Loving the World: Let someone who is missing worship know he/she is missed

Family Love Challenge Day 28!

• Loving God: Listen to "You are My All in All" by Nichole Nordeman
• Loving Your Spouse:  Reflect on the past month and think of what you most enjoyed about focusing on your spouse - make a commitment to keep doing those things.
• Loving Your Kids:  Look for ways to understand your kids better and encourage them.  (I suggest using the Clifton Strengthsfinder for youth, and Enneagram if they are old enough.)
• Loving Yourself:  How can you encourage yourself to grow in your faith and your areas of strength?   Commit to reading at least one page a day from encouraging/uplifting/motivational blogs or books, or listening to one podcast.
• Loving the World: Commit to make a habit of blessing and sharing encouragement with others.  Also think of 1-2 people in particular who you would like to intentionally encourage and specifically pray for on a regular basis.

Remember, just because it is the end of February and the end of these posts, that doesn't mean you have to stop following this pattern.