Grab
Refrigerated sugar cookie dough
Cookie cutters
Flour
Vanilla frosting
Various sprinkles and colored sugar
Small, colorful candies such as Skittles or M&Ms
Aprons
Paper and pencil
Go
Have your daughter put on an apron to protect her clothes (and let her pick out one for you!). Following the directions on the package of cookie dough, roll out the dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Dip the cookie cutters in flour first to prevent the dough from sticking to them. Arrange the cookie dough cut-outs on baking sheets and bake according to the directions. Place cookies on a cooling rack or paper towels to cool.
When all of the cookies are baked and cooled, place them on a large tray and spread them with frosting. Use your creativity and add sprinkles, colored sugar, and candies. Finally, enjoy the best part of cookie baking: eating them!
Grow
Decorated cookies are awesome because you get layer upon layer of sugar—the cookie, the frosting, and the sprinkles combine for a great sugar rush! I’m sure your daughter brings her own “sugar rush” when she bats those eyelashes and shares her hugs with you.
While you’re enjoying your cookies together, make a list on paper of all the sweet things she has said or done in the last few days. Was she friendly to a neighbor? Did she do some chores without being reminded? Did you get a big hug when you came home from work? Did she share a toy with a brother or sister?
When we belong to God he fills our hearts with his love. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 ESV).
Pray together and thank God for the gift of your daughter. Praise him for putting love in her heart for others. Thank him for the sweetness she brings to your life!
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the sweetness and love in my daughter’s heart. It is amazing to watch the way she cares about others and shares her heart with me. Thank you for the chance to spend some time together today. Please continue to grow your love in each of us. Show us how to serve the people around us in your name. We want to be like Jesus! Amen.