Building Character in Your ChildSample

Servanthood

By Lisa Lakey

One morning during prayer time with the kids, our list of requests morphed into a discussion about how our lives would be different if we lived on the other side of the world. I expressed how my prayers would sound if I lived in an area where food and medicine for my children were scarce. In the safety of our little corner of the world, we discussed the loss and suffering we would likely never face. 

I could see my oldest was deep in thought. When she spoke, the frustration in her voice was apparent. “Then why doesn’t He do something about it?” she said.

I took a deep breath as I gathered my thoughts on what to say to my tenderhearted girl. She knows the world is broken from sin and evil and that Mom doesn’t have all the answers. So instead of the standard response, I asked, “What if that’s where God is calling us, His children, to step in?” 

If we raise our children to be servants of God, this world won’t struggle to find people who have a heart to reach out and serve the hurting and the lost. 

So how do we develop servanthood? Here are some ideas to consider. 

Serve daily. We are presented with service opportunities multiple times a day. My daughter can choose to help her brother pick up his toys or practice a letter he is having trouble writing. My five year old opens the doors for others, and he offers to carry something when my hands are full. The difference is made when we do it joyfully, as if it is truly our pleasure to serve the other.

Serve together. A friend of mine has kept extra snacks in her car ever since her oldest daughter saw someone on the street asking for food. She saw her daughter’s compassion for this man, and together they thought of a way to help others who struggle like him. Another family I know consistently visits with and cares for an elderly widow they know. You don’t need a lot of organization and money to fill a need together. 

Listen to their hearts. That prayer time with my daughter led to discussions on what we could do to help the people in that area of the world. I can see the deep compassion God has placed on her heart for this region. What areas can your children serve? Talk to them. Even young kids can come up with mighty ways to help. 

To learn more about cultivating an attitude of service read, Dressed for Service Not Success on FamilyLife.com.