17
Parachutes

Grab

Two plastic grocery or trash bags

String, cut into eight eighteen-inch pieces

Two rubber bands

Two small plastic animals or dolls

Go

Let’s make parachutes! Cut a square from each plastic bag, about a foot or so across. Cut a small hole into each corner of your squares. Tie a length of string to each of the corners of the bag. Gather the ends of the strings and knot them together. Use a rubber band to attach a small plastic toy to the knotted part of the string.

Without tangling the strings, carefully fold the parachute into a small bundle. Lightly wrap the string and toy around it. Toss your parachute into the air, and as the string unwinds the parachute will open and float to the ground.

Dad to Dad

Make sure safety comes first with this date! Even though it’s fun to drop parachutes from a high point, do not allow your daughter to lean out over a railing or windowsill or climb where there is any danger of falling.

Grow

You would never jump out of an airplane without a parachute! You would put your trust in that chute in your pack to keep you from harm as you fell toward the earth. That’s just like life—we would not want to face the future and all of its unknowns without being under the watchful care of God.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you;

he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Ps. 55:22)

The LORD makes firm the steps

of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (Ps. 37:23–24)

God is ready and able to help us in any situation. Talk to him about everything going on in your life today—he wants to share his strength and love with you as you lean on him.

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Dear Father,

Thank you for being there for us every single day. Thank you for your promise to keep us from falling. With you we can keep on going even when things are difficult. Teach us to depend on you—with you we’ll never fall! Amen.