Anyone else wishing they would have learned this lesson much earlier in their life? The getting vs. the giving. And the idea that it really does feel better to give than to receive. As a parent of a two-year-old, I have questioned how I can begin instilling this value in my son, even at a young age.

I think the answer came to me last night when I wasn’t expecting it.  Ben and I volunteered, along with our life group, at a free medical clinic that our church hosts every week for those in the community who don’t have access to or cannot afford medical care. Our role was to serve a hot meal to those in attendance.  It was a humbling experience to say the least. What a blessing it was to serve the people and to meet some of the other volunteers who do this on a regular basis.  I had the opportunity to connect with a girl who literally blew me away. Her name was Grace and she was eight years old. One of the cool things about Grace was her huge heart for being there to help. She wasn’t asking what was in it for her. She was there to share her gifts and love people. I was curious how long Grace had been volunteering. And you can imagine my surprise when she said she has been doing this every week since she was four. What I found so attractive about Grace is that, at such a young age, she gets it. Like really gets it. She told me how much she looks forward to coming each week. She knows that her volunteer work matters and that the people she is serving matter, too. It was a beautiful thing to see unfold. She was also such an encourager to new volunteers and let them know what needed to be done and the best way to go about doing it.

In talking with Grace, I couldn’t help but think about her parents. It’s not happenstance that Grace understands the power in giving over getting. I learned that Gracie’s parents don’t just talk about the importance of volunteering. They walk their talk by giving away their time, their talents, and their love every week at the medical clinic. And they’ve been doing it since the medical clinic started four years ago. How easy would it have been for them to say “no?”  I mean they had a four-year-old at that time, right? Instead they said “yes” and in doing so they have instilled something so important in their daughter that I am betting will last for years to come.

I love that the same opportunity awaits me as a parent. If I want my son, Joe, to understand lessons like this one, I have to invite him into these experiences when it’s age-appropriate.

Whether you’re a parent or not, really makes no difference though. We can all lead by example and be the change that we want to see in this world. When is the last time you volunteered? How did it make you feel? What are you holding onto? What gifts has God given you that you sense he’s asking you to give away? If you already volunteer on a regular basis, I just want to thank you for the example that you’re setting for the rest of us. I hope you’ll encourage and invite others like me to step up on a regular basis and make a difference. Each and every one of us has something to offer that someone else needs.