Doesn't the world revolve around ME?

Well... NO. Two thoughts... First, as kids, we innately seem to have the "me, me, me - mine - I want, I want - NOW" mindset from the start. Though if you (like me) have siblings, reality settles in a bit faster that the world just doesn't work like that... at the very least, you figure it out when you start school... there are in fact other people around and no, its not all about me and my entitlement.

Second thought... we, for the most part, live a life of privilege in North America. I once heard a parent tell the story of their son (living in a beautiful lakefront log home) who at the age of 3 asked a friend: "What lake do you live on?" Doesn't everyone have the same life as me? Why wouldn't a child think that way... unless they're taught (and that boy was sure enlightened that day!)

So, these two thoughts lead me to this... in our highly self-absorbed privileged society, there's a lesson I feel I need to instill in my children... essentially, it's one of compassion... becoming aware of others' needs around us - whether they are poor, sick, oppressed, or just different...

The teachable moments have been quite sporadic in the past years, but seem to be peeking with my oldest daughter these days, and I'm feeling like I've got to seize the moment! We have donated non-perishables to the local food bank and hygienic products and clothes to an inner city church's drop-in center as she's been learning about the needs of others in our community at school and in Sunday school. This will extend nicely into November as I love taking the opportunity to put together a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child - going to the store together to buy NOTHING for us, but only for a child or two in other parts of the world who don't have all that we have... I enjoy watching my daughter thinking about what that child should have, might need, and what might make them happy as we walk down the aisles of the department store. That's been a wonderful experience in the past, though I was so busy with work last year, I totally missed the boat. I'm more on the ball this year!

I also want to make the kids more aware of our sponsored children (one through World Vision and the other through Compassion Canada), reading the letters, writing letters and sending pictures and artwork from the kids... I've ben really slacking on that front... I'd like to put the pictures of the children on our fridge so that we don't so easily forget about them as a family, but rather can begin to pray for them and maybe spark conversations with our kids with a more frequent reminder of those around the world who are less privileged. I think that seeing the faces and drawings of our sponsored children and knowing more about them and where they live (geography lessons while we're at it!) will also make the experience of preparing our Christmas shoe boxes that much more real for them.

There are wonderful opportunities out there to teach our children about compassion. About loving our neighbour (locally and abroad). Recognizing the needs of others and taking action to make a difference. Friends of ours began "Trick or Treat for Hope" which gets the youth in the community involved to collect non-perishables for the local food bank every year at Halloween. There are all kinds of things we can do! I hope to be more intentional about not letting those teachable moments so easily slip by!

At some point, I also want to introduce my children to Craig Kielburger, who at the age of 12 in his home in Canada was hit by the image of a boy on the front page of the newspaper who was in a world of child labour a world away. That sparked a passion in him, and he went to school that day and rallied his friends to care as well. They formed "Free the Children" whose slogan is "children helping children through education". Now in his 20s and a university graduate, he travels as a motivational speaker with his "Be the Change" tour, challenging young people to not sit passively by, but to take action and to make a difference in the world around them.

I think that says it all... "Be the Change". Though my kids may not go on to start international organizations like Craig (though who am I to limit them if they so choose!?), I do want them to learn the importance of loving others and doing what we can to help those in need. Didn't Jesus give us that as as the greatest commandment? LOVE! And what is love if it isn't followed by action?

The slogans for these various organizations are quite powerful...

"The power of a simple gift" - Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan's Purse

"Change a life, Change your own" - World Vision

"Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name" - Compassion Canada

"Be the change" - Free the children

All of these are calling for us to take action! I also love this quote from Helen Keller (who was blind and deaf) "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

No, it's not all about me... An important lesson to learn (and more importantly to remember!) It's all too natural for me to have my selfish tendencies creep in at a moment's notice... to become absorbed in my own little fast-paced North-American life and my own "little" problems and forget altogether about the needs of those around us... As a teacher, I've always found that I learn best when I have to teach something... maybe that's what I'm hoping for as I long to be more intentional about teaching my children about compassion. BE the change, what a revolutionary concept.