Families + Service = Transformed Families

How Serving Together Changes Families

Posted by Stephanie Hartsell

In an “all about me” world, we long to teach our kids what it means to put others first, to have a servant’s heart, and to be selfless. Serving together as a family can be a catalyst for a kid’s growing faith and character, producing these things.

Before you tune me out and think, “We can’t add one more thing to our busy schedules!” I’m not saying you have to plan a three-hour yard cleaning for the widow down the street. Instead, make service a part of your family’s DNA by keeping an eye out for things that need to be done and the people around you who are in need. It may be that the widow’s yard does need to be cleaned. But it may also be that Jimmy, the kid next door, broke his arm and just needs a batch of chocolate chip cookies,& which your children can help you make (or help you pick out the Walmart iced sugar cookies and put them on a plate with a card your kids make and deliver … whichever one you have time for).

Serving together as a family can become a way of life when we change how we look at our sphere of influence. Listen and be aware. Find a need, great or small, and work as a family to meet it. Talk it over, pray about it, involve your children in thinking of ways to meet a need and then do it. 

Once you have completed the act of service, take a few moments to talk about the experience and how everyone felt about it. Take time to pray for the people you helped or your community and ask God to help your family to have eyes to see the needs around you. 

Serving together grows our kids’ faith and produces character because it:

  • requires them to look outside themselves
  • helps them to feel empathy for others
  • helps them to learn about gifts and talents God has given them
  • helps them understand that they can accomplish significant things TOGETHER

Doing service together as a family is an experience you and your children can have and can make wonderful memories for your family.  

How can your family be “LIVE SENT” by serving someone this week?