raising generous kids: things to do
We live in a city, in a county, in a state, in a country that is overflowing with wealth. We live in a place where making it to a six figure income means you are still below average. The opportunities are endless, the options overwhelmingly abundant and the stuff can be suffocating. In the midst of all this Kevin and I are trying to figure out how to raise generous and thankful children. We desire for them to have eyes that see those in need and hearts that long to show God's love through giving. The idol of materialism is ever growing in our country, right along side the idol of self, screaming at our children to spoil themselves because they deserve it.
One of the best ways to combat greed is to give. Faith in action. We teach our children that our salvation from God is a free gift not dependent upon what we do, but once we experience God's love and understand His redemption it will be the natural reaction to put that faith in action. We desire for our kids to understand that true faith is alive and can be seen by how you live your life and the choices you make.
"What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace,be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." ~ James 2:14 - 17
Here are a few ideas of ways to get started this summer. We would love to hear your ideas to add to the list!
- Host a Lemonade/Treat Stand: Summer is a great time for the kids to have a lemonade stand. Add to the fun with popsicles or sweet treats. Let the kids plan the event. The first task is to decide the purpose for your lemonade stand - who are you raising money for. Then let the kids shop for needed supplies, make the signs, mix the lemonade, bake the cookies, and spread the word. We have had great success by advertising our lemonade stand online through facebook and emails to local friends. A great place to get started is the organization Cupcake Kids
- Sponsorship: Sponsor children in poverty. As a family decide which organization/country you would like to sponsor a child from. We try to sponsor children who are about the same ages as our own so the kids can see what life is like for a kid just like them. When you are looking for a place to sponsor, pick an organization that allows you to communicate with the sponsorship child. The kids love receiving the letters from our sponsor children and having the opportunity to send letters in return. Some groups that we really like are: Good Shepherd's Fold, Embracing Hope Ethiopia, Bring Love In, Africa New Life
- Yard Sale: Clean out your house as a family. Give each of the kids a bag to fill of things to sell. Give them a number of items to give away. For example, find 10 toys to sell. Just like with the lemonade stand, have the kids plan the event and have a vote for where to donate the funds raised. You can even combine the yard sale and lemonade stand. Whether you sell to donate or just donate your items, regular simplifying is a great practice to get into. It always amazes us how much we can come up with to give away.
- Donate to local food bank: Each time we go to the grocery store I let every child pick out one item to purchase for donation. We change the theme each week. For example, this week every one picked out one canned good. We then take them to a local food bank to donate. The facility we go to has donation times at the same time as food pick up times. I like to go then so the kids can see what happens to the food after it is donated. Many times there are families there just like us. We donate our items at Loudoun Interfaith Relief
- Host a Baby Formula Drive: Brighton Their World is an organization we just recently learned about and are looking forward to participating with them by hosting a formula drive in the near future. They have lots of great ideas of ways to collect formula. The formula is then sent to Kebebe Tsahai orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via mission teams and traveling adoptive parents.
For local friends, we are currently collecting the following items. You can drop them off at our house anytime. If we are not home just leave in the bin on our porch:
- Backpacks for Haiti: new or gently used backpacks with two straps. donations needed by July 19th
- Donations for families in Oklahoma: teddy bears, and we are collecting for a specific family who needs 3T girl, 2T boy, and newborn to 6 months boy (baby is due June28).
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