Raising Uncommon KidsSample

Lesson Title: Kids Can Too
Character Focus: Gratitude
Prayer Focus: City
Focus Verse: COL.3.16-17

Just as we couldn’t begin this study expecting our children to be world-changers before first starting with focusing their hearts on God, we can no longer expect our children to remain idle when they now understand the impact they can make outside their own homes.

There is a whole world out there that we desperately want to expose our children to so they don’t get too comfortable in their own surroundings. Part of the natural battle comes in making the unknown more tangible to them.

Gratitude goes a long way in any scenario, but taking kids out to face the reality of life for those in the bigger city around them can be the wake-up call everyone needs. Parents often threaten kids by exposing them to how children in third-world countries live, but many would be surprised to discover the hurt going on within miles of their own home.

The best thing we can do is meet our kids where they are and start there. Before we can ever expect our kids to help others, they first need to exhibit gratitude for what they have. It’s up to caregivers to not only introduce their children to these issues, but help them evolve a plan for how to lend a hand in a tangible and ongoing way.

Thought to Ponder: When we feel as though we have nothing to give, we can always offer our gratitude.

Make it Practical: 
Call your local children’s hospital to see if you and your child can play with, read to, or sit with some of the kids with long-term illnesses. They often get a lot of offers during the holidays, but it’s in those in-between times when they can really use volunteers, especially consistent ones.