I got an email Friday night (around 10:30pm, after game night) indicating there would be a leaf-raking service project at the home of an older couple in our ward. We had let Whitney go home with Adam and Amy so she could have a sleepover with the girls, so she missed this opportunity, but Randy, Landon and I were there to help at 9:07am (Landon was running late) Saturday morning.
We were only 7 minutes late, but there was already a big crowd of people raking leaves. I was surprised to see so many children (the youngest was 2 years old!) all helping with the raking or the bagging of the leaves. What better way to teach kids to serve than to start them young?!
It was rather chilly outside for the kids, especially when the wind picked up (I never felt cold because I was working hard and had gardening gloves on) and after an hour and a half Landon was freezing and grumpy. I wish he wouldn't have felt that way, but I'm 38 and he's 11 so our perspectives on service differ from each other (I have to keep reminding myself of this). He ended up running home to take a shower and recover, but Randy and I stayed to the bitter end.
After finishing at this house, we ended up joining another family who'd been there raking to rake the leaves of another family who'd been there raking (did you follow that). We crossed the street and had our little raking party and were done in a hour with their whole yard (it would have taken them a lot longer by themselves), and then that family followed us home and helped rake our leaves!
We did NOT expect them to do this, and didn't think we had that much to do, but ended up filling about 10 bags of leaves with their help. It was wonderful!
If you had told me the night before that I'd spend 4 hours happily raking leaves the next day, I wouldn't have believed you. But it didn't feel like 4 hours of work, it felt like 4 hours of soul-lifting service (even to ourselves) and was such a great way to spend a Saturday morning.
We're really trying to teach our kids and ourselves, that ...."Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
--Matthew 25:40
**How did you learn to be a hard worker
and to give service happily? (Have you learned?)**
and to give service happily? (Have you learned?)**
Comment Window Tidbit: We had so much to do after church today (meetings, home teaching, tithing settlement, and a court of honor) that there was no chance of taking a Sunday nap. This was a good thing as I think last week's nap ruined my sleep for the entire week!
17 comments:
Sounds like a great way to render service..and then to be served.
My kids LOVE to rake, so we let them happily attempt to make a dent on the leaves and then let the yard crew come and suck it all up with their giant truck vaccuum. (Our landlord pays for the yard work).
Funny because this topic of learning to serve as a family is the exact topic of Clayton's talk this morning, and that scripture is the one I had him read. I've been trying to teach the kids that writing letters, doing something kind, giving something are all service and that service is easy. We served our grandparents a lot as children, and they served us as well, and that's a lot of how I learned the value of service. The "happily" part can be tough with kids. I guess any opportunity to show them that you feel good or that it is fun should be taken. Sometimes easier than others!
"Soul-lifting service even to ourselves"....you can't get a better Saturday than that. I'm so glad you participated and benefitted and that all ages and generations were a part. What an opportunity.
it's always fun to serve with friends--you feel great doing it and it's fun at the same time as you chat with nice people. By the way, I loved THIS IS IT too!!!! Smiled through the whole thing!
I am still learning this! But definitely the example and encouragement from my parents paved the way, so you are doing the right things with your children. That's what I think anyway!
I raked leaves at my parent's house the other day and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! I had Daniel help me bag the leaves. It actually turned out to be a fun chore:)
What a wonderful service chain-reaction! As soon as I read your comment blurb about the raking, I started thinking -- wouldn't it be great if all the neighbors raked each other's yards? It would be so much more fun than raking our own! Looks like you guys are onto something great.
I think it's always good to keep the age difference and experience level between ourselves and our children in mind. Not easy to do.
Our topic for Sacrement meeting was teaching your children service so this fits in so perfectly. I think you should start young teaching your kids to serve others and your family. It is a priceless thing to learn. We were always doing things for others growing up and now we are trying to teach our kids the same thing.
Service is a never ending lesson - giving it is always easier than receiving it - have you noticed that? Most little ones are usually excited to help with anything. Once they become old enough to really work hard, they seem to lose the desire...cruel irony!
Such a happy way to get the job done! I hope there were a few good jumps into those beautiful piles of crackly leaves!!
That sounds like a feel good day! We need to do this more with our kids!!
wow- I love your leaf raking mania!! HOOORay it came before the snow. do you have snow? we had about 3 inches but it's melting fast.
Kids are just lazy (most of them) by nature. He is learning from example & that's the most powerful lesson of all.
thank you for praying for my son's safe return :) I appreciate you doing that, more than you could possibly know.
Great post!! It made me smile :)
Oh how often I have quoted that scripture to my children! My parents taught me the value of hard work, and the fun in it as well. Thanks for the reminder about remembering the age difference as it relates to the level of enthusiasm when offering service. LOVE this post.
We spent Saturday raking too! Our kids loved it, especially when they got to take turns with the blower. We raked for a single lady who lives with her elderly parents. It felt so good to do that simple thing and we are always trying to teach our kids about work and service too.
Funny how you'd never really look forward to it, but you always feel great after.
hopefully no one i know will see this, but this kind of activity would never happen in our ward, someone would just pay for a leaf service to come. i love hearing about these kind of things.
ok sorry I am going anonymous. too risky
Good, old fashioned service feels so good. I especially like that this was a community effort. It's really in the spirit of Zion that people young and old and from all different backgrounds and standings are out there serving together. This is how it's supposed to work!
I love this. I remember being Landon's age and being so not into extended periods of service, but I'm so grateful that my parents taught me to work and serve. It's been something that's seriously blessed my life!
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