A kind word, a simple deed. Opportunities to serve are limitless and present themselves everyday. The best way for children to learn to serve is by example. I remember seeing my parents help others in a variety of ways when I was growing up. I especially remember the small acts of service they did for one another: flowers brought home just because, my mother waiting to eat until my father came home from a busy day so he wouldn’t eat alone, my dad opening the car door for my mom every single time they went somewhere. It gives me hope that when my own children are gone, they too will remember the acts of service Mr. Ferrero Rocher and I do for one another and for them.

One day, when Semisweet was about five, I happened upon her doing some act of service for her younger sisters.  She smiled at me and said, “I’m being a sunbeam! You know, like in my poem.” It was too cute.

This little poem was the one Semisweet had memorized. It was an easy way to teach her (and subsequent children) the importance of serving others. For years after, whenever someone would get grumpy or selfish we’d hear Semisweet’s voice pipe up, “Remember to be a sunbeam!” Which is a rather great reminder on those somewhat ‘cloudy’ days. All too often I hear, “Ugh, it’s not my turn to help her!”  or  “She can do it her own self”  or “Why do you always ask me to help him?”  It seems the unselfishness comes and goes more often than it comes and stays around here. {sigh} I guess it’s one of those lessons that slowly sinks in over time. I hope.

Actually my children love to serve others but serving those of their own family is just harder.  Why is that? I know it’s more fun to clean someone else’s house than it is to clean my own! Bon Bon enjoys doing Family Search Indexing. She types in information from old census, church, or probate records so it’s easier for others to do their genealogy. Semisweet is quick to volunteer to babysit and is very observant of other’s needs, often making suggestions of what we can do to help others who are feeling down. Brownie volunteered to call the girls in her church group to remind them of activities to take some of the burden off of her leader. We try to encourage the children to serve each other by doing our Thanks and Giving Trees leading up to Thanksgiving. More recently we’ve started a warm fuzzy jar after hearing Pres. Monson speak of it in General Conference last October. And, of course, we tell them about the Greatest Servant of all, Jesus Christ. He went about doing good, helping the down trodden, healing the sick. I love to snuggle with my little ones on my lap and read to them from the Scripture Readers all the kind acts the Savior performed.

One of my favorite scriptures comes from King Benjamin’s sermon in the Book of Mormon

“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” Mosiah 2:17

which echoes the Lord’s teaching as recorded in Matthew

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40)

It really is a pleasure to serve others, even more so when I can perform service with my family. It brings us closer to one another and it just plain feels good!

Join us for Wordfull Wednesday! Write a post on the following topic, then come and sign the Mr. Linky.

Service for others – Are there certain ways your family serves those around you? How do you teach your children to look beyond themselves to serve others? “Parents have a sacred duty to teach [their children] to love and serve one another” (Family Proclamation, paragraph 6)

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