Our friend Susan gave us a book about Mother Teresa’s life. Becky’s reading it and relaying all the highlights to me.
My favorite parts so far are about Mother Teresa’s mother. What part does a mom play in the making of a sacrificially generous humanitarian? A big part, I think.
When her dad died, Mother Teresa was only nine. Her mom sewed to pay the bills and, even though ends were hard to make meet, she took in six more kids when her friend, their mom, died.
But Mother’s mom didn’t just take care of her NINE children, she took in the poor and sick on a regular basis – quietly. And this is perhaps the most incredible lesson Teresa’s mother taught her as a child: Serve quietly, as a stone thrown into the ocean.
On our date last night, Becky and I talked a lot about what our kids are learning from us. Some of it’s not-so-great. Some of it’s flat out weird. And some of it, I think – I hope – will send quiet ripples of kindness out into the world.
How are you teaching your kids (or someone else’s) about generosity, kindness and service? Tell us what’s worked for you and yours.
I hear ya. Some of the things we do (examples we set) as parents show our kids exactly how crazy human we really are.
I recently blogged about a situation that I hope made some sort of lasting impact on my own children:
http://redcedar.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/stepping-out-in-faith/
(Read the post before it for context.)
I think that, more than anything, kids learn because of what they see you do, not what they hear you say to do.
I don’t have kids of my own, but I hope my nephew learns to be generous because he sees my being generous (even if I’m not trying to teach him a lesson).
And, I think kids need opportunities to do this themselves. I’m children’s ministry director at my church (which basically consists of preschool kids and infants, right now), and we try to give the preschool kids opportunities to give stuff to others.
Kristy, that’s cool that you’re getting the kids involved when they’re in preschool. At this age they’re soaking things in like sponges–so even if they don’t remember the exact circumstances, the activity of giving will be a lasting impression.
I just started teaching the Primary Sunday School (grades 1 and 2) at my church, and the theme is serving God. I’m taking the opportunity to not only talk about the missionaries and other items suggested for focus given in the curriculum, but reminding them about the girl that the Sunday School has been sponsoring with Compassion for several years, and even telling them about my own sponsored child. Kindof a “broaden their horizons” way of thinking. Who knows what kind of seeds we’re all planting.
We had a big map on the wall in the kitchen for a while so our kids (4 years and down) are pretty globally aware for their age. One day our oldest pointed to a country and asked about it. We told her it was called Somalia and told her a little bit about what life is like for people there. She said she wanted to help them, so we took an empty vitamin bottle, cut a slit in the top, and drew Somalia on the side. She collected spare change from friends and family until the whole jar was full. Then together we sorted it and rolled the coins and “went on the computer and made it go to Somalia to buy food and clothes and clean water”. Now her jar is almost full again, but this time it’s for Myanmar!
Like Kristie, I have a world map on the wall in my girls’ room. My girls are ages 4 and 2. Then I have the pictures of the children we sponsor through Compassion near their corresponding countries. I also have their pictures on the refrigerator and in the office upstairs.
Every morning during breakfast we get out our prayer calendar from Compassion and the girls ask who we are praying for today.
The girls also have 3 great grandparents living in nursing homes… we do not live close enough to visit regularly, but the girls will draw them pictures every week to send. When we do visit, I take my violin and some rhythm instruments or our small violin and we give concerts to the residents in the homes.
Before we moved last summer, we had started a story time for preschoolers at a local Senior Living home. It was great to see the generations being bridged through simple stories. The seniors loved having the little kids around and the kids enjoyed interacting with grandmas and grandpas.
And the Operation Christmas Child boxes are great opportunities to get kids involved in picking out gifts for other children.
I’m looking forward to the day when my girls initiate the acts of kindness. Until then, I will continue to seek out opportunities so they can see and experience servitude.