This post was originally published December 5, 2011.
It’s no secret that people seem to come out of the woodwork to serve during Christmas (while, really, there’s plenty of work to do year round!).
As a Christian, my Christmas celebrations center around remembering Christ’s birth. Jesus came to serve, and He calls us to serve others, and it’s a joy to fulfill this command.
But I’ll be honest: I have struggled with serving since I became a mom.
Did she really just say that?
Yep, I did! While I spent my teen years and twenties going on mission trips, teaching various age groups of Sunday School, teaching immigrants English as a Second Language and translating for them during desperate times, I’ve found serving these ways with two little ones in tow is not only difficult…but it’s next to impossible.
Image by XenoLV426
Besides all that, some older, wiser mothers gave me this piece of advice when I was pregnant with my first: Your children will be your little disciples. Don’t rush to serve others to the neglect of them.
Wow–and OUCH!
But the question remains: Are there ways to serve with little ones?
Yes! Check out these suggestions for serving with your little ones this Christmas:
Image by hortongrou
1. Make cards for nursing home or hospital patients
Once children hit age 2 (and sometimes younger), they can usually color on paper. And you can easily fold the paper into cards. Many sick and elderly people spend the holidays alone, and a simple card made by a little one can bring lots of cheer. If your children aren’t ill, take them with you to deliver the cards! If they are, I suggest sending the cards in the mail, as you don’t want to expose the most vulnerable to any sickness.
Image by fulco
2. Collect coupons for military families
Did you know military bases take expired coupons?! If you get the Sunday paper, it won’t be hard at all to set aside your unwanted coupons. I’m not an extreme couponer, so I am happy to pass along any coupons to those who actually use them more often.
Instead of chunking them in the recycling bin, have your preschoolers help you cut them out, stuff them in some envelopes with some homemade Christmas cards and send them to your favorite military family. This is sure to be a blessing! (Don’t know any military families? My friend and military wife, Nikki, at Christian Mommy Blogger, may be able to point you in the right direction!)
Image by shomedia
3. Make a meal together for a homebound individual
Little ones can start mixing and tossing in pre-measured ingredients when they are little more than a year old. While you’re cooking, talk or even pray together for the person for whom you are preparing the meal.
Image by hortongrou
4. Make a video and/or music recording for a faraway friend or relative
Does Grandma live 12 hours away (my girls’ does!), or do you have a special missionary friend who lives in another country (we do!), why not have your kiddos sing for the camera and/or voice recorder. It will be sure to bring smiles and cheers–and maybe even a few tears.
5. Bake some treats for your neighbors
This has to be my favorite–and one we will definitely be doing again this year. Last year, Little Girl and I baked banana bread for our neighbors, but this year I think we may make an assortment of treats, like pumpkin spice donut holes, healthy chocolate peanut butter fudge, coconut-cranberry peanut butter truffles and my triple chocolate peanut butter truffles from the Healthy Holidays eBook. We like to attach a Bible verse proclaiming Christ’s birth.
Last year, we delivered the bread on a rare white Christmas morning, and it was a blast getting to know our neighbors (most of whom invited us inside!).
Related Post: Here are 7 ideas for an at-home summer “missions trip.” You can do these at Christmastime, too, though!
Tania
Great article, I like you was very actively serving baddie having children and after the birth of my first I was excited to learn that I could still minister though it was different and with many breaks in between. The kids and I go with the group at our church that ushers to sing Christmas carols at the nursing home close by, we made simple ornaments for our neighbors last year with a verse and card attached, we are taking meals and cards to some of the families in our church who have someone recovering from surgery. There are so many ways to serve and our little ones can serve and be disciples in knowing and sharing God’s love!
Erin
I love those examples! Thanks for sharing!
Christy
Thank you so much for this article! I’ll be saving these ideas.
Erin
I hope they will come in handy!
Sheila @ Pennies of Time
We try to seek out ways to help someone everyday with the intent to spend 15-20 minutes serving other. I had “service paralysis” until I took on that philosophy and find that God helps us find others to serve. I never thought about passing on coupons, will have to keep that in mind next time.
Erin
How awesome! Thanks for the input!
Christa Upton
These are wonderful ideas! Our kids like to write (or dictate) funny stories for their grandparents. I wonder if folks in nursing homes would like the kids’ funny stories as well….
Erin
That sounds like so much fun!
Helen
This article was a great reminder for me. A few years ago at Christmas time my children and I made some treaties and delivered them to unsuspecting families and loved ones in the dark! We placed them on front porches or in letterboxes explaining that it was a suprise. My kids loved the suspense of tiptoeing around and trying not to giggle whilst at the same time serving other families. We found out later that one family had been despairing as due to financial stress had nothing to give their kids, we know God saw their distress and prompted us to help. We had no idea at the time. By all means keep serving when you have little ones. It helps them understand that other people have needs and feelings.
Erin
What fun to do it as a surprise like that in the dark! And how amazing for God to ordain that for the distressed family! Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
kate @ livinglovinglaughing
Thanks for this wonderful post. It’s encouraging me to look for some new ways to serve with my little ones. You are so right about not neglecting our children in order to serve… I have had to slow down a lot since becoming a mama, but I guess its always been reassuring to know that mothering them well is God’s first calling for me. Now they are a little older (5 and 3) we have had a blast this christmas season, looking for ways we can serve others together. Just this week we visited a nursing home to sing Carols to the residents ( http://livinglovinglaughingtogether.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/5152-her-last-day-of-preschool-brothers.html ) – it was such a precious, encouraging experience and really easy to do with littlies! We have also done some baking/sharing, singing to neighbours, cards and ornaments for the postman, friends etc. Our last planned activity is some ‘random acts of kindness’ giving out some ornaments and flowers at the grocery store entrance on xmas eve. Hopefully will cheer some stressed out shoppers! Anyway, will be taking more ideas from this post for next year 🙂 xx
Erin
It sounds like y’all had a lot of fun serving together!!
Michele
Thank you for reminding me! I wanted to start helping at soup kitchens or bringing my son to help pack food for the needy this year! I want to show him how we can be helpful to others, and how it can make us feel great too!
April
I take my children to our local food pantry/thrift store. We volunteer by cleaning, organizing, and sorting. It’s a great reminder as to how fortunate we are, and it gives my children an opportunity to serve others.
Kimber
These are awesome ideas! My 6-year-old’s favorite service activity is to take dollar bills and hide them (with encouraging notes) in the aisles of the dollar store. 🙂 http://www.letsdosomegoodtoday.com/2014/10/30/the-dollar-challenge/
pastor Bob
Don’t forget to teach the. To pray for those around you. Keeping a prayer journal at a young age can teach them to,pray expectantly as adults. Pray the answers for your neighbors!
Erin Marie Sills
Such a great post. I’m going to share today on my site! We build shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and also sponsor a child through Compassion International (http://www.healthhappensathome.com/blog/2015/10/14/serveotherslivelongerandhappier?rq=serve)
Erin
Neat!