Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Cayading: Service can bring a family together By Trinidad Cayading Parenting Pinoy
A PERSON who can recognize the needs of those around him is a person who is in high demand. Any corporation would love to hire him and any club or organization would bend over backwards to make him part of their team.
Why? Because in our society, people have stopped caring about the needs of those around them and have become selfish, only thinking of their own needs.
If we could teach our children what it means to put off the natural tendencies of selfishness, and learn to recognize the needs of others in the process, we would be both teaching and learning through experience what the meaning of charity really is.
Giving service to others should be an important part of each human beings existence.
By teaching service, we also teach unselfishness, gratitude, charity, and love for our neighbors.
Here is a simple way the art of giving service can be taught in your own family. Feel free to adapt this lesson idea to a way that could benefit your family the most.
Lesson: Showing service to others brings happiness to us, and those whom we serve.
Begin by telling your children a time in your life when you have been a benefactor someone who chose to serve you.
Explain to them how it made a change in you and helped you to accomplish your objective.
Ask the following questions: Why do you think giving service is so important? How does giving service help you to be a better individual?
Take a walk around the neighborhood and during the walk have them look for service opportunities. (For little children, some may be apparent immediately, for example: Picking up trash along the sidewalk.)
During your walk, discuss ideas that they might be able to follow up on.
For example: A neighbor needs their lawn mowed, weeds pulled, sidewalk shoveled, or just a visit from someone who cares.
Upon your return home take a walk through the house and ask the following questions:
What do you see that would be a great service opportunity in our home? (example, make a bed, clean a room, make dinner, read stories, etc.)
How would showing the attribute of service helps to strengthen our family?
Write down their thoughts and encourage them to think of the needs of others throughout the week.
Scriptural example: Matthew 25:40
And the king shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my Brethren, ye have done it unto me.
