Our family was recently on the receiving end of someone’s giving. It has been over 6 weeks since Cam was born and Shane just hadn’t gotten around to mowing our yard, and it was really showing. It wasn’t for lack of trying, the time just slipped away from him, and before we knew it, 6 weeks had passed!
Our sweet neighbor Gus (whom Shane frequently asks for yard advice) came over and mowed, without even asking. He just did it. The sweet man was very apologetic that he mowed for us, but he knew we were so busy and just wanted to help out. Shane wasn’t home, and I was more than grateful for his help! Abby Grace and Meleah were home with me at the time, and kept remarking at what a “nice neighbor Mr. Gus is!”
A nice neighbor, indeed.
He is a true servant in whatever he does, and he has helped us out quite a bit over the last few years. In fact, I could take lessons in servant-hood from his example!
Since then, the girls have been on a mission to “help others.” (See, I can’t even take credit for their wanting to help! They want to be like Mr. Gus!)
After we got home from Classical Conversations on Tuesday, the girls went to play in the back yard. After a few minutes, the girls came inside, armed themselves with a broom and trash bags, and asked for permission to use the rake. Oh. And they instructed me to stay out of the back yard and far away from the any windows facing it. Yes ma’am!
The girls worked until dark, and then proudly showed me the fruits of their labor: ten trash bags filled with leaves. They then proceeded to ask if they could spend Wednesday knocking on doors around our town to see if anyone else would let them rake their leaves. These girls are obviously on fire about helping out, so if any of you locals need your leaves raked, give my girls a call!
Here are a few simple ideas you can do with your kids to give back.
- Rake leaves for a friend or neighbor
- Pick up trash on the side of your neighborhood street {remember to wear gloves!}
- Bake banana bread for the office staff at your church
- Offer to help a new mom with laundry or take her a meal
- Volunteer at your local shelter
- Purchase items for and pack Operation Christmas Child boxes
- Purchase a toy for a local child through the Toys for Tots or Angel Tree ministries
- Collect change in a jar to bless a family with at Christmas
- Gather canned goods for your local food pantry
- Bake cookies for the teacher’s lounge at school
What are your favorite ways to give with your children?
I am so impressed with your girls’ leaf raking job! That is so awesome that they are learning to serve, and taking it upon themselves to do so!
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Oh Amy! It sounds like the girls have learned about giving at home and outside the front door. I love their enthusiasm!
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