How important is teaching the value of generosity to your children? Heed the words of Christ Jesus himself in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Gladly enough, when generosity is taught to kids, it grows like seeds on fertile ground. As parents, you play the crucial role in influencing your children towards a generous life. This is not just your lifetime investment in them. This is also your eternal gain for God’s glory.
Here are some practices that can help you influence your family towards the life of generosity:
- Be a model giver
When people tell you to follow what they say but don’t follow what they do, they indirectly present the high value of being a role model. When you’re showing the actual ways of generosity, your kids will see it. Additionally, your children can easily smell of hypocrisy from a distance. If you would like them to live a generous life, you have to live it out heartily and seriously. You can model generosity by donating to non profit organizations in Chicago, Illinois or sponsoring the education of a child from another country.
- Talk about generosity
Learning also comes with teaching. You can teach generosity to your children when you talk to them about it. Remind them of the eternal rewards of giving, or the personal fulfilment that comes with generosity. Teach them stories of generous people. Share with them encouraging verses that remind about the beautiful virtue of giving.
- Receive guests at home
Generosity is not just giving money. Your kids can also learn that you can give time, resources, and even your life. Try to invite guests to your home, such as your neighbors, church leaders, or even a homeless person in the street. While you need to practice safe discretion in admitting strangers, you can always open opportunities to make hospitality as an opening ground for generosity.
- Let kids assist in giving
Kids, just like everybody else, can learn via participation. If you’re planning to give something to a person or organization, let them join in. You can let them assist in wrapping the gifts. You can ask them to write encouraging notes. You can even let them prepare coloring cards. While these may be small activities, their participation will be an active moment in their memory.
- Let them participate in volunteer works
It’s not too early to let your kids join in volunteer works. Be keen to look around or look up some opportunities where they can volunteer that is appropriate for their age. This participation is the part where they can truly witness what happens when others receive the kind of help they truly need.
At My Excellency Complex, it is our earnest desire that we can continue to nurture children who not only know God through His Son, Jesus Christ, but also live out His characters, where generosity is one of them. You can share with our vision as a Christian based school by influencing your kids in this path through a partnership with our ministry. Just contact us to know how you can be an active partner in our kingdom-building here on earth.