Teaching our children to make a difference

The title of this group is Single Mothers Making a Difference.  Well, how can we make a difference?  There are so many ways that we can make a difference, but today I want to focus on our children.

I raised my children to be giving and kind, among many other things.  Our society today is so involved in self.... self worth, thinking highly of yourself, etc.  Many children, and parents alike are too self absorbed.  I did not want my children growing up thinking only of themselves.  I learned early on that the best way to teach your children is by example.  So, when we found out of someone in our church that was in the hospital, the kids would make a card for them, we would buy a small vase of flowers and then go visit.  At Christmas time, we would bake or make items to give to people at church.  If we went to McDonald's to get something to eat and there was someone sitting on the sidewalk that looked like they were homeless or hungry, I would order them a bigger meal than what we had and let the kids give it to them.  One time I was pumping gas and a man walked up to me and said that he did not have any gas and could I give him some money for gas.  Well, I did not have much money to put gas in my own car, but told him to pull up to the pump when I was finished and I gave him half of what I was going to put in my car.

Why did I do all these things?  Because I wanted my children to see that taking care and being kind to others was more important than taking care of ourselves.  And each time I did something like that, I always made it a learning lesson.  I explained why I did what I did and told them that it was very important to let God use us to be a blessing to someone else.  I even found that at times when I was discouraged or depressed, doing these things made my day brighter.

Thanksgiving is a good time to teach your children to be giving.  We have so much to be thankful for and we ought to teach our children to be thankful for what they have and to help the less fortunate.

Let's determine to take time to teach our children to think of others first.  And as they get older, pray that God helps them to continue thinking of others instead of self.