Life with kids doesn’t need to mean life without mission.
Life with kids doesn’t need to mean life without mission.
(Guest post by my good friend – Jana Huffman)
As I am on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor of our house, covered in sticky little boy footprints, I wonder to myself…
“Why do I not get this sleep-deprived, floor-scrubbing (and let’s be honest, pee-cleaning), loud-and-wonderful season OFF?”
While completely over-caffeinated, I am occupied by riding bikes, inventing miniature car washes, reading stories, and teaching all manner of things from letters to hair-combing.
Is it crazy wonderful? Yes. Crazy exhausting? Yes.
Should I make (and even pray for) enough margin to do more than give myself five… blissful… minutes to drink my coffee while it’s still hot?
Should I ask God to lead us in how to see what God is doing around us even in the midst of the chaos of childhood?
Yep.
Why oh why, dear parents?
1. So our kids will know mission is our way of life.
If we aren’t finding ways to be on mission as a family, chances are we aren’t finding ways to love and serve as individuals. If we find ways to do it together, then it enriches them and becomes their everyday life for as far back as they can remember.
It’s like when we sneak squash into their muffins – it’s good for them and is all they’ve ever known!
My friend Bree runs bunches. She pledged to complete Venture Expeditions’ “100 miles” Campaign (those miles in 100 days to raise $100) with her daughter, Reagan, along for the ride.
Reagan is only one, and of course she won’t remember. But her parents are finding ways to live on mission with her, and this is the first of many ways she’ll be involved. They are creating a lifestyle of living with purpose.
2. Life on mission grounds our family.
There are millions of thoughts and questions that come out of my five-year-old’s mouth when we are serving others. While doing different things with all different kinds of people – we have the perfect place to start conversations about poverty and justice.
These conversations, plus experiences on mission with them, help us explain to our boys how we choose to use our resources – our time, our money and our things.
3. Mission teaches our kids that everyone is valued.
Those “other” people? Not other to them… Like most kids, my three-year-old stares at people who are different-seeming to him. Purple hair, different dress, new language…
I do my best to teach him to be polite in the moment… and sometimes just embrace the awkward. But mostly I want him to notice and relish that he will grow up surrounded by a rainbow of all kinds of people. My hope as he grows up, is that diversity will seem natural to him.
4. Kids are MAGIC
Kids are able to bless people so uniquely. Something about their energy and perspective… kids open conversation, bring innumerable smiles, build community, and make someone’s day… in ways you and I NEVER could.
To withhold that from the world? This tremendous, and by nature – fleeting, gifting from God? A crime!
How then, do you ask… HOW do you plug these mighty and capable lovers of the world in?
How do you serve with these crazy little tornadoes of energy and light in tow?
HOW to live on mission with your kids? Ask these questions:
1. What do you do? What is your family about?
My husband is a shelter manager. People experiencing homelessness is something we care about. I’ve gotten to plug into the issue through a running group at a shelter near my house. My kids don’t come to our early morning runs, but they come to the races and social events.
They know and love the team, and take joy in cheering for them. They bring a little of their kid magic to the warm up stretches and runs. I share my love of running to empower people in a challenging situation. In doing so, my family receives more than I can ever give!
2. What are your kids about? What gifts do they have to share?
My neighbor Hannah recently invited me along, with my younger son, to help deliver some meals to neighbors in a senior high-rise. Her son is not one ounce shy and is an engaging, charming kid.
One of the meal recipients barely noticed us adults as she chatted with this little guy, and as we left she announced that her day was made.
Oh parents! The joy in nurturing these aspects of our kids? Noticing with them how God made them, and empowering and building them up to love others with those gifts? Wow.
3. What is your church, or neighborhood, about?
Our church is connected to various ministry opportunities in our neighborhood, and our family has committed to be part of the group who serves at the local food shelf.
Since others run the project, it was easy to get connected to and low-maintenance to be involved in – which is a huge plus for busy families!
Serving with other people who care about my kids learning to serve makes it more meaningful, and just plain easier at times when it doesn’t go well.
My five-year-old has lots of energy – which sometimes gets in the way or turns to tears at the end of his new-kindergartner day. Our fellow volunteers can step in and help… or excuse us with grace.
We’re in this together.
During your five minutes of coffee-sipping, take a moment to sketch out some of the answers to these questions.
Notice where God is at work in and with you, your kids, your neighborhood or church.
God placed you and your unique family in your specific location with intention and purpose. Join in – as a family – with what God is doing!
God is leading our family one sticky little boy footprint at a time and God wants to lead yours as well!
Life with kids doesn’t need to mean life without mission.
(Guest post by my good friend – Jana Huffman)
As I am on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor of our house, covered in sticky little boy footprints, I wonder to myself…
“Why do I not get this sleep-deprived, floor-scrubbing (and let’s be honest, pee-cleaning), loud-and-wonderful season OFF?”
While completely over-caffeinated, I am occupied by riding bikes, inventing miniature car washes, reading stories, and teaching all manner of things from letters to hair-combing.
Is it crazy wonderful? Yes. Crazy exhausting? Yes.
Should I make (and even pray for) enough margin to do more than give myself five… blissful… minutes to drink my coffee while it’s still hot?
Should I ask God to lead us in how to see what God is doing around us even in the midst of the chaos of childhood?
Yep.
Why oh why, dear parents?
1. So our kids will know mission is our way of life.
If we aren’t finding ways to be on mission as a family, chances are we aren’t finding ways to love and serve as individuals. If we find ways to do it together, then it enriches them and becomes their everyday life for as far back as they can remember.
It’s like when we sneak squash into their muffins – it’s good for them and is all they’ve ever known!
My friend Bree runs bunches. She pledged to complete Venture Expeditions’ “100 miles” Campaign (those miles in 100 days to raise $100) with her daughter, Reagan, along for the ride.
Reagan is only one, and of course she won’t remember. But her parents are finding ways to live on mission with her, and this is the first of many ways she’ll be involved. They are creating a lifestyle of living with purpose.
2. Life on mission grounds our family.
There are millions of thoughts and questions that come out of my five-year-old’s mouth when we are serving others. While doing different things with all different kinds of people – we have the perfect place to start conversations about poverty and justice.
These conversations, plus experiences on mission with them, help us explain to our boys how we choose to use our resources – our time, our money and our things.
3. Mission teaches our kids that everyone is valued.
Those “other” people? Not other to them… Like most kids, my three-year-old stares at people who are different-seeming to him. Purple hair, different dress, new language…
I do my best to teach him to be polite in the moment… and sometimes just embrace the awkward. But mostly I want him to notice and relish that he will grow up surrounded by a rainbow of all kinds of people. My hope as he grows up, is that diversity will seem natural to him.
4. Kids are MAGIC
Kids are able to bless people so uniquely. Something about their energy and perspective… kids open conversation, bring innumerable smiles, build community, and make someone’s day… in ways you and I NEVER could.
To withhold that from the world? This tremendous, and by nature – fleeting, gifting from God? A crime!
How then, do you ask… HOW do you plug these mighty and capable lovers of the world in?
How do you serve with these crazy little tornadoes of energy and light in tow?
HOW to live on mission with your kids? Ask these questions:
1. What do you do? What is your family about?
My husband is a shelter manager. People experiencing homelessness is something we care about. I’ve gotten to plug into the issue through a running group at a shelter near my house. My kids don’t come to our early morning runs, but they come to the races and social events.
They know and love the team, and take joy in cheering for them. They bring a little of their kid magic to the warm up stretches and runs. I share my love of running to empower people in a challenging situation. In doing so, my family receives more than I can ever give!
2. What are your kids about? What gifts do they have to share?
My neighbor Hannah recently invited me along, with my younger son, to help deliver some meals to neighbors in a senior high-rise. Her son is not one ounce shy and is an engaging, charming kid.
One of the meal recipients barely noticed us adults as she chatted with this little guy, and as we left she announced that her day was made.
Oh parents! The joy in nurturing these aspects of our kids? Noticing with them how God made them, and empowering and building them up to love others with those gifts? Wow.
3. What is your church, or neighborhood, about?
Our church is connected to various ministry opportunities in our neighborhood, and our family has committed to be part of the group who serves at the local food shelf.
Since others run the project, it was easy to get connected to and low-maintenance to be involved in – which is a huge plus for busy families!
Serving with other people who care about my kids learning to serve makes it more meaningful, and just plain easier at times when it doesn’t go well.
My five-year-old has lots of energy – which sometimes gets in the way or turns to tears at the end of his new-kindergartner day. Our fellow volunteers can step in and help… or excuse us with grace.
We’re in this together.
During your five minutes of coffee-sipping, take a moment to sketch out some of the answers to these questions.
Notice where God is at work in and with you, your kids, your neighborhood or church.
God placed you and your unique family in your specific location with intention and purpose. Join in – as a family – with what God is doing!