Alina Puscau

"The love of God reminds me of the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)," says Josh, age 10. "God gives us our fruits so that we may have good attitudes all day long. Once we have given all our fruits, we get really edible. All we have to do is ask God for more fruit."

Josh, I'm afraid that sometimes when friends are looking for peaches, strawberries or mangos from my life, they get lemons.

"God's love is when you come home from school, and your dog jumps up and licks you," says Taylor, 7. No jumping up for Ann's dog: "Love is when my dog jumps 'on' me when I get home," says Ann, 7.

Whether it's jumping up or on, dogs are the clear winners among the animals nominated for best expressing God's love. I'm sure God would be glad if our love and devotion to him where as wholehearted as that of Taylor's and Ann's dogs. Do you ever get excited about God? Does your face ever show it?

"Love is patient," says Caroline, 7. "Love is kind. Love is through the world all the time."

Try around the world, says William, 9: "The love of God reminds me of a circle because it never ends. It also reminds me of a plane because it lifts me when I'm down. God's love reminds me of a warm night by the fire because it warms me."

Molly, 9, has another angle on warming up: "God's love reminds me of a mother making cookies and hot chocolate when you come in from playing in the snow."

Moms show God's love in other ways, says Chris, 8: "God gave my mom the will to help my dad to know God. My mom also brought me to know God."

Is there a greater love gift a mother could give? The gift that keeps on giving is eternal life, a relationship with God through his Son.

Stacy's mom knows how to make her feel special: "The love of God reminds me of my mother because whenever she comes home from work, she kisses me and says, 'I love you so much.'"

Don't forget Dad, says Ross: "The love of God reminds me of my dad because he is hard working downtown."

Downtown or uptown, please remember God at special occasions, says Alina, 9: "The love of God reminds me of a birthday cake. The candles remind me when God lights the way. The icing reminds me of how sweet He is and generous. The bread part reminds me of the Last Dinner because they had bread and wine."

Thanks, Alina. A birthday cake will never look the same.

Justine, 9, looks back to the time before everyone's first birthday for her lesson in God's love: "The love of God reminds me of sweet baby faces that are soft and smooth. The love of God is also parents who care, brothers, sisters and grandparents who love you, and cousins who like to play. There's only one more thing I would like to say. The love of God is Jesus!"

Many people think love is only a feeling, but actually, it's a person. The Bible says, "God is love," and the ultimate expression of love is Jesus on the cross, says Andrew: "The love of God reminds me of the cross because God had died on the cross for our sins. How badly He was hurting when He was hanging on the cross for us."

Point to Ponder: God is love, and a relationship with him will transform you into a love giver.

Scripture to remember: "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him" (I John 4:16).

Question to consider: Will you allow God to love people through you?