As early as I can remember as a child, my parents especially my dad taught me to help others by his example. I remember him picking up hitchhikers when we were in the car with him. That was very scary to me. I remember him stopping to help people that their car had broke down on the freeway. I remember him stopping what he was doing to fix someone else's car so they wouldn't be stranded. I think because of this I have always loved to help others.
How important is it that we teach our children service when they are young???? I think it is very important. I remember when my kids were very little and one of them had a friend that had just received an operation and we went to the store and bought the friend something cold and sweet to eat and took it to him. I remember my child telling me, " Mom, that was fun, that felt good." I have always tried to teach my kids that service is important and that it makes us feel good.
Last night I was able to go and visit a sister in my neighborhood and help her in her yard. She is not able to walk around very much and can't do much for herself. I took my youngest daughter with me to help also. We didn't do a whole lot for this sweet lady but she sure thought that we did and it was great for my daughter to see the great blessings of serving others. When it came time to leave, she insisted in paying my daughter and we tried to talk her out of it. I think it is great for my kids to do service without rewards and without pay, but she insisted.
It is amazing when you fill your heart with love for others and are willing to help those that can't help themselves how great it makes you feel. You think that you are serving and in return you gain so much more. I hope that these experiences will help to shape my children, like those that my dad used to give me when I was young.
It is not only great to serve but we need to remind those that we serve that it is important that they let others serve them too. I think this is the hardest part is letting others serve us.
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9 comments:
So true. I think I need to be better about giving my children opportunities to serve others. I was good about it in AZ, but it's just been tough in so many ways here.
I've been working lately on teaching my kids about serving others, pointing out to them when something we have done is service so that they learn to recognize how many opportunities there are to serve.
I think this is a really wonderful sentiment, and very important. If kids don't learn these things at a young age I'm not sure they will as adults. And that's scary!
I agree - serving is much better than being served.
:~D
It's true--and being an example is the best way to teach something!
My mom was an amazing example of service. I've tried to be that way with my kids. We go and help my husbands grandma often and she always pays the kids. It's nice and I know that she wants to and can but it's also frustrating because then they kind of expect it when we go and help the other grandmas out. I've tried explaining it to them and I think they get it. I hope they do.
I agree! I think it is so important to teach our kids about service.
Service definitely is one of the best things you can teach your children, for sure! And it seems to be something that is less and less thought about in the world we live in. You rock!
It's wonderful that you are passing the tradition of service on to your children!
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