Friday, November 2, 2012

Guest Blogger - Penny Zeller, author, "How to Instill Compassion and Servanthood in Your Children" (plus book giveaway)

Penny Zeller at book signing event
Awhile back Penny Zeller author of the Montana Skies series of books, graciously let me review the three books in the series and host giveaways of a copy of each of them. She also visited as guest blogger here on Chat With Vera.  I count it an honor and pleasure to again host Penny as guest blogger.  She writes today on "How to Instill Compassion and Servanthood in Your Children."

The months of October, November, and December see the onslaught of winter and for many deprivation.  It also sees the "me" or "gimme" holidays that often lure our children into become very self-possessed and self-entitled.  Penny is going to help you to know how to encourage your children toward establishing a different mindset and attitude.  Help them to focus on something or people other than themselves. 

Now let's hear from Penny.......


How to Instill Compassion and Servanthood in Your Children
By Penny Zeller

Ephesians 6:7 says “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord and not men.   However, just telling our children to serve others isn’t enough. We need to model compassion toward others to our children.

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So how can we, as parents, grandparents, teachers, and youth leaders, make the application for our children from the physical act of service to the motive we need to have? For one thing, our motive must be for Jesus and not ourselves. Matthew 6:3 says “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…” Explaining to our children that we help others, not so we can brag about it, but so that we can honor Jesus is a great step in explaining this passage.

1. Remind our children to put others first in a “me-first” society. Teaching our children (and modeling it through our own behavior) to put others before ourselves can be a daunting task.
I’ll never forget when my girls were younger and I had split a cookie in half (inadvertently, one piece ended up slightly larger than the other) and told them to each choose a piece. I watched from afar to see how things would unfold. My oldest, Sunshine, told my youngest, Doodle, “It’s important that the person who picks first should pick the smallest.” I grinned. Sunshine was getting it!

A moment later, my smile faded as I listened to the rest of Sunshine’s rationale.  “And, Doodle, you can pick first.”

“I’m supposed to pick the smaller piece,” said Doodle.

“Yes you are,” agreed Sunshine, with a glint in her eye.

I watched as Doodle picked the smaller piece, leaving the larger piece for Sunshine, who  knew how to manipulate the system!

Our job is to continue to impress the importance of putting others first on our children, even when they don’t “get it” the first, second or one-hundredth time! (A side note: years later, Sunshine is now one of the most generous and giving people I know!)

2.  Hone in on each child’s unique personality and their God-given gifts. Each child has their own unique personality and will each have different ideas of what types of service projects they would like to undertake. In addition, they each have their own spiritual gifts. One of my children has a heart for world missions and has decided she wants to be a missionary. She is the vice-president of her missions club and she already receives a fair amount of mail!

My other child has absolutely no interest in missions. However, she has a deep love and devotion for younger children and at her tender age is already a mentor and childcare worker at our church.
Discover your child’s gift and passion. Discuss with them and ask if they could help one person in this world, who would it be? And what type of help would they want to provide? Some children have a heart for animals; some have a heart for those who are terminally ill. Still others have a heart that breaks for those in orphanages or foster care.

3. Allow your children to see the benefits that can be found by including your neighbors or others in your community in the service acts. I remember a couple of years ago when a friend of mine discovered her young son had cancer. It was amazing to me to see the Body of Christ join together to come alongside of this family in their time of need. Denominational lines were crossed as several different Bible-based churches offered daily prayer support, made and/or purchased meals, remodeled their home, made monetary donations toward the medical bills, and held fundraisers.
All over the country, communities and churches are coming together in amazing ways for the benefit of those who struggle with life-threatening illnesses, natural disasters, and unemployment – and it’s making such a difference!

4. It’s never too early to start our children on the path of serving and blessing others. We started our children serving others when they were babies and would accompany us to the nursing homes. Although they don’t recall the details of those days, my husband and I were still cementing within our children a permanent foundation of following Jesus’ command to love their neighbor.

5. Pray as a family that God would place someone in your family’s path – someone who needs help. Allow each child their turn to pray for this important topic.

6. Allow each child to choose someone to help on a regular basis.

7. And then serve with your family! And serve again and again! Serving fosters Christian fellowship both within your own family and with your neighbors – it unites families and brings us closer to God and each other.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  
Begins November 2 - ENDS November 16 @ 12:01 a.m. EST
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: Author, Penny Zeller is providing one Chat With Vera reader as winner of the giveaway a copy of "77 Ways." 

22 comments:

  1. Sorry Vera on the first one can't do a season--its seasons-all seasons--servitude is all we have in our family-- sure we all slip and do the ME_ME, but on the most part we all understand and are grateful for everything we have.So as we were taught--we are teaching ours--that are life is to serve,even in the smallest way.Now slow to anger, and patients,we are still working very very hard on that.lol-- I am so glad I found you

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    1. Hello Mike,
      I wanted to thank you for stopping by Vera's blog and leaving a comment for a chance to win "77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference." I hope you have a blessed weekend.
      In Christ,
      Penny Zeller

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  2. There is a tree at the CVS near where we live where seniors put what they want for Christmas and you get it for them and CVS delivers it to them. We do Toys for Tots too (this is similar) but for seniors.

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    1. Emi - A "Senior tree" is a new concept to me. I've seen angel trees (needy children) and Toys for Tots. I have also seen organizations sponsor homeless shelters and women's shelters "trees". All of which are good. My mother was in assisted living for several years and though some were affluent there were those who were definitely not. They did not even have money for soap, shampoo, or lotion (and their skin was so dry).

      So when individuals or groups are looking for ways to help, don't forget those seniors!

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    2. Hi Emi,
      I absolutely love the idea of a senior tree! Vera, so true, we oftentimes to forget about seniors and some cannot afford even the basic necessities.

      A few years ago when I was leading a women's Bible study, we asked our local Salvation Army if we could purchase several items for a needy senior citizen in our community for Christmas.

      Not only did we anonymously put together a basket for the needy woman, we also prayed for her.

      Thank you for stopping by, Emi. Have a wonderful weekend!

      Blessings in Christ,
      Penny Zeller

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  3. Vera,
    Thank you again for the privilege of being your guest. I appreciate your heart for spreading the word about Christian books and your willingness to use your blog as a way to share books with others.

    God Bless,

    Penny Zeller

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  4. We havea a thankful jar. every day each person in our family put in a slip of piece of paper for what we are thankful for.

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    1. What a sweet idea, Amanda. Have you read the review I wrote about The Sparkle Box? That giveaway has ended, but hopefully the idea of a Sparkle Box will take hold and folks will run with it. Your thankful jar is similar only with the Sparkle Box, mommy would place things the kids and family do individually and jointly to help the unfortunate. Then on Christmas morning they open the box (the kids don't have a clue as to what is inside) and there are slips of paper that mommy has written on each an every helpful, loving, servant-orientated deed done. This is their gift to Jesus.

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    2. What a wonderful idea, Amanda, and such a great way to instill gratitude in children!

      Have a blessed rest of the week,

      Penny Zeller

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  5. we try to find some friends or neighbors in need and surprise them with Christmas guts. we also do Operation Christmas Child and collect food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

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    1. Marcy - that is so nice. Glad you are able to be a blessing to others.

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    2. Hello Marcy ~ I loved your idea about collecting food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Isn't Operation Christmas Child such a wonderful way to share the love of Christ with others?

      Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

      Penny Zeller

      P.S. I really appreciate that you took the time to "like" my Facebook page. Thank you so much, Marcy!

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  6. We do the operation Christmas Child shoe boxes too! With six kids, money is tight. This year I plan to implement for handmade gift giving.

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    1. Jennifer - I know someone who was able to actually visit an orphanage in RU and help distribute Christmas Child shoe boxes. A blessing to behold! I know it is tight with 6 children - I had 5. We didn't do shoeboxes but shared where we could. I assume your 6 children each have a part is creating the shoe boxes!

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    2. Hello Jennifer ~ That is neat that you are teaching your children that the most important gifts are ones that are handmade and come from the heart. Awesome!

      Wow, Vera, I loved your comment about the people who actually got to visit the orphanage and distribute shoeboxes. Someday our family hopes to visit a distribution center when our girls are older and help prepare the boxes for shipment.

      Blessings,

      Penny Zeller

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  7. Thank you for all your sweetness and giving..If only people would realize it is more blessed to give then receive this old world would be a better place.
    Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)

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    1. Paula - Thank you for such a kind comment. If we look deep enough within ourselves, we will find that we each have something to give. Our "stuff" or "things" - our smile - our touch - our love.

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    2. Thank you, Paula, for your comment. I agree, it is so much better to give than to receive and such a great lesson for our kids to learn early in their lives.

      Happy Thanksgiving!

      Penny Zeller

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  8. We do the Christmas gifts for the less fortunate kids puts a little sunshine in their life.......I have shared on facebook and twitter and I am a follower too........babyruthmac16ATyahooDOTcom

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    1. Some children see so much darkness in this life and it is absolutely wonderful when sunshine or light is brought to them. The best gift of all is the Light of the World - Jesus. He can bring them out of the depths of darkness. But they must have it pointed or shined in their direction. That is a wonderful gift to give to them.

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    2. So true, eyeballlucy. Some of those children you are blessing would never receive a gift if it wasn't for your generosity. Thank you for being Jesus' hands and feet!

      Thank you also for sharing about the article and giveaway on Facebook and Twitter. Have a blessed week!

      Penny Zeller

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  9. We help make and serve the community dinner at our church's food pantry dinner. We plan to adopt a child from the Angel Tree. I don't think that is enough and I'm definitely hoping that I find other ways for my kids to physically serve others. I think that as they grow up serving others it will be second nature when they are adults

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