As they mature, kids begin to search for their personal mission and unique way of serving the Church. That path begins at home. In my last article, I explained how parents can mentor their kids in the works of mercy as part of everyday family life. When we practice the works of mercy at home, I think we transition very naturally to practicing them in our communities.
By serving others alongside our children, they’ll exercise their mercy muscles while being supported and mentored by mom and dad. This is less intimidating than waiting until high school when many kids are required to do a service project as a graduation requirement.
Finding Service Projects
Consider the special gifts and passions of each family member: how might you find service projects or missions that will utilize these? What causes or problems matter most to your family? What limitations do you have in terms of time and finances? After you consider these strengths and limitations, pray about it together, placing your collective “yes” in God’s hands. Ask him to give you wisdom and patience as you move forward.
It can be hard to find charities that will allow small children to serve with you, so you have to be creative. Here are some ideas for practicing the works of mercy out in the world, no matter the ages of your kids:
- Deliver Meals: You can feed the hungry and visit the sick by delivering meals to homebound people who are sick or home with a new baby. New moms so appreciate meals arranged by friends. My friend Stephanie’s family delivered meals with her five kids in tow for Meals on Wheels!
- Free lemonade stand: Kids love to have lemonade stands, but why not encourage them to give away the lemonade for free? They are giving drink to the thirsty, and their kindness will stay with the stranger far longer than a quarter would stay in their pocket!
- Volunteer in Children’s Ministry: You can “instruct the ignorant” by volunteering to teach in your child’s faith formation class at your parish. When I taught Dominic’s class, the parish allowed his older sister Claire to be my teaching assistant. This was a great way to serve with Claire while ministering to her brother and other children.
- Donate your talents: Whatever your family’s talents—art, music, computer programming, or storytelling—use them to bless others. You might visit those who are bedridden or in a nursing facility, create gifts for impoverished children, or donate your creative product to charity. In these ways you are comforting the sick or the sorrowful, and teaching your children that we can use all our talents to glorify God.
- Create warm bundles for the homeless: Use your talents and imagination to come up with “warm bundles” as a personal way to let a homeless person know you care. A small bundle might be a pair of mittens stuffed with snacks; a large bundle might be a blanket and a boxed dinner. If your family sews or knits, these items can be homemade. You can seek out donations for your bundles and then deliver them with your children to shelters.
- Adopt a grandparent: Many elderly today live far away from family. Whether they live independently or in a nursing home, they frequently feel lonely, financially burdened, or may have a tough time doing all the tasks around their homes. You may know somebody who needs the love and assistance of your family. Many parishes have “adopt a grandparent” programs. If your parish doesn’t have one, maybe your family can take the lead and start one!
- Have a garage sale and donate the proceeds to a local charity: Decide ahead of time what the charity will be, then let your kids help you make signs for your charity garage sale. You may even find your neighbors want to join you. Your children will be proud seeing the money they made from selling their things. If possible, take them along when you deliver the proceeds to your charity.
- Animals need our compassion, too: Your family can volunteer to clean cages and groom and feed animals at an animal shelter or wildlife sanctuary. Most of these facilities will have age minimums for child volunteers, but if you are working alongside your child, they may allow your child to participate in some capacity. You can collect donated blankets and sheets (or whatever your local shelter needs), bake animal treats, or make homemade animal toys, then deliver them to your shelter with your children. You might even consider adopting or fostering a pet! My family fosters for the SPCA. We have foster animals several times a year, usually kittens and puppies. Service can be cuddly!
Preparing Children
As your family comes up with a vision for how you would like to serve others, ensure you prepare your children ahead of time for their service experience. Explain to them exactly what will happen, what will be expected of them, what they might see or hear (sick children, dogs barking loudly), and why you are participating in the volunteer work.
Very empathic, sensitive children will naturally be moved by the plight of others who are suffering in any way. This is not a bad thing, but we want to ensure our kids won’t be completely overwhelmed. I have one child who is overwhelmed easily by images or stories of suffering children and animals. I do believe this is a gift she’s been given, but I have to be aware of her sensitivity when thinking about service projects for my family.
Big Kids and Teens
Undoubtedly, our choices and ability to serve will change over time. Eventually our kids might be able to serve away from us. Older kids may imagine their own service projects or commit to a short-term mission somewhere. Many parishes organize these missions for their high school youth groups. My oldest child went on several mission trips in high school, and it was during this work that he began discerning more seriously a vocation to the priesthood.
Consider whether your entire family may be called to a short or long term mission away from home. This perhaps seems an extraordinary suggestion, but Catholic families are serving in missions all over the world—Mom, Dad, and children together.
If this seems a possibility in your future, or if something within you stirs when you consider it, begin praying and exploring now. A good placed to start: The Family Missions Company is a Catholic non-profit organization that assists families in participating together in foreign and domestic mission work.
Resources
The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering by Jenny Friedman. Secular. Tons of great ideas in this book written specifically for families. “Volunteering is an important way to cultivate compassion, gratitude, and empathy in children and to bring families together in meaningful ways. For busy parents who want to spend time with their kids while still contributing to their community, family volunteering is an opportunity to combine two commitments into one. This book is perfect for every family because it offers flexibility volunteer for long-term projects or one-time events.”
The Mission-Minded Family: Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny by Ann Dunagan. Protestant. “In a mission-minded family, there’s a God-infused energy. There’s a focus on God’s worldwide purpose and there’s a passion for the lost. There’s a spiritual depth and hunger that reaches beyond the maintenance mode of cultural Christianity. A mission-minded family emphasizes leadership, calling and destiny. There’s a prevailing attitude of self-sacrifice and an emphasis on total submission to God’s will. There’s an unmistakable and contagious joy.”