Mommy Life: Teaching compassion and generosity

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June 19, 2006 10:10 AM

Teaching compassion and generosity

Received this email from Joni, who blogs at What It's All About

Hi Barbara,

My name is Joni. I am the SAHM to a 4, 3 and 16 month old. I found out about you after reading The Mommy Manual, which I love. It is in my top 5 books on mothering and I recommend it to all of my mom friends. Then recently I found your blog, and I love it!

I'm writing to share with you that I used an idea from your book at our vacation Bible school this week with my class of 90(!) five year olds. Our lesson was one the rich young ruler. I shared with my class of rather affluent little five year olds how blessed they are with material things, but that the real treasure is Jesus. I then used my World Vision gifts catalog (thanks for your inspiration to use mags like this!) to share with them photos of how other children live. Not to say, goodness, aren't we glad we don't have to live like that? But to raise their awareness of how most of the world lives and to promote gratitude and generosity in their little hearts.

I do this with my own children as well, thanks to your great book. Thank you for the many wonderful ideas in your book and on your blog. You are a light in my mommy life.

I linked to your blog today in my post as I was sharing about the above idea. Thanks for your encouragement to us mothers of young children. Please continue.

Warmly,
Joni

NINETY five year olds in a VBS class. Ay-yi-yi! And she lived to write about it :)

Thanks, Joni. I'm happy to pass this on. I especailly appreciated your sensitivity to showing the pictures in the proper spirit:

Not to say, goodness, aren't we glad we don't have to live like that? But to raise their awareness of how most of the world lives and to promote gratitude and generosity in their little hearts.

And anyone wanting more information on how to increase your child's awareness of what Joni is talking about, see my entry under Barbara's Picks: Early Education for National Geographic or Countering a Culture of Plenty.

Love,