How Can I Help You?
When I’m offered assistance I feel cared for, don’t you? Whether it’s my boys, husband or the kid bagging groceries, it’s really nice to have help. Life is a little sweeter when you don’t have to do the heavy lifting alone.
Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28). We can do likewise. Train your children to identify the needs of others and step in to assist. It’s a habit we want to instill in kids. Begin modeling when children are young so it becomes natural to want to help. Matching socks, sorting silverware, and organizing toys are all ways of helping. (They are good pre-math skills too!) Step up the expectation as kids mature. When children are given opportunities to help at home, they become accustomed to serving others.
Ideas for serving in the home
• Cleaning-vacuuming, dusting
• Unloading, reloading dishwasher
• Trash and recycling duty
• Washing windows
• Yard work
• Keeping one’s personal space neat
• Laundry assistance
• Meal preparation
When everyone helps, housework is more manageable. Since all reside in the house, everyone can be responsible for helping to keep living spaces clean. Coach kids to do simple tasks like scrubbing sinks, vacuuming, and washing windows. Train children to see things that need to be done. Servanthood can include simple tasks like changing the toilet paper roll… without being asked!
Charity begins at home, but should not end there.
Thomas Fuller
Start at home then move to serving outside the home. Coming to the aid of others doesn’t have to be a big event like a mission trip. There are many easy ways to meet the needs of others.
Ideas for serving outside the home
• Donating food to the local food shelf
• Serving dinner at homeless shelter
• Fast food gift certificates for the hungry on street corners
• Toy drives (Kids can use their own money to make purchases.)
• Volunteering in the nursery at church
• Spring yard work for the elderly
• Garbage pick-up in the local park
• Giving the proceeds from a lemonade stand or yard sale to charity
One way our family serves others is in preparing a Mercy Meal. When we hear about a family in need, we call to express our desire to help, schedule a drop off time and date, and check for food allergies. On the scheduled day, we prepare a meal for the family and deliver it to their home in a basket. The basket has a tag attached informing the family we will pick up the basket on the front steps the following morning with the serving dishes/pans/plastic containers from the dinner. This leaves them free of having to return the basket and other items. It’s one small way to share our love with others. And it’s been really good hands-on learning for the boys!
Look around your neighborhood, church, child’s school, and community. Who could use a helping hand?
…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve
Matthew 20:28a
© 2013 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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