“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
I often stop and think of how much I have and feel grateful. I have way more than I need and I am well aware of that. Being thankful for all that we have should cause us to want to help others by giving of our abundance. I am trying hard to teach my children this concept as well as live it myself. I want my kids to be selfless and aware of their blessings as well as the needs of others. I try hard to serve others and give to others as often as possible. I love giving my time and talents to others who may be in need. I hope my example of wanting to serve shows through to my children. Teaching children to serve is such an important thing. If children learn while they are young the value of giving of themselves, not for praise but just because, their lives will be so much better. They will understand that others have needs besides themselves. They will learn to see those needs and step in when needed. They will know how to help others without first being asked.
Make cards for nursing home or hospital patients
Once children hit age 2 (and sometimes younger), they can usually color on paper. And you can easily fold the paper into cards. Many sick and elderly people spend the holidays alone, and a simple card made by a little one can bring lots of cheer. If your children aren’t ill, take them with you to deliver the cards! If they are, I suggest sending the cards in the mail, as you don’t want to expose the most vulnerable to any sickness.
Collect coupons for military families
Did you know military bases take expired coupons?! If you get the Sunday paper, it won’t be hard at all to set aside your unwanted coupons.
Instead of chunking them in the recycling bin, have your preschoolers help you cut them out, stuff them in some envelopes with some homemade Christmas cards and send them to your favorite military family. This is sure to be a blessing!
Make a meal together for a homebound individual
Little ones can start mixing and tossing in pre-measured ingredients when they are little more than a year old. While you’re cooking, talk or even pray together for the person for whom you are preparing the meal.
Make a video and/or music recording for a faraway friend or relative
Does Grandma live 12 hours away (my girls’ does!), or do you have a special missionary friend who lives in another country (we do!), why not have your kiddos sing for the camera and/or voice recorder. It will be sure to bring smiles and cheers–and maybe even a few tears.
Bake some treats for your neighbors
This has to be my favorite–and one we will definitely be doing again this year. Last year, Little Girl and I baked banana bread for our neighbors, but this year I think we may make an assortment of treats. We like to attach a Bible verse proclaiming Christ’s birth.
Last year, we delivered the bread on a rare white Christmas morning, and it was a blast getting to know our neighbors (most of whom invited us inside!).
There are many ways to give service in this world. There are many wonderful organizations and causes that do great good. However, it does not always have to be a big grand gesture. Sometimes service is simply a smile and hello to someone who passes you by. A few other things we have done in the past are donate toys to children in the Philippines, andOperation Christmas Child boxes.
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