To Help A Child

I’ve been thinking a lot about children lately. Not only because I recenly got an Operation Christmas Child catalog in the mail, with pictures and stories about children around the world who received Christmas boxes, but also because my church is in the process of building a children’s building. One of the primary focuses of the building effort is remembering that the things we do today can have a big impact on others tomorrow.

Especially kids.

You might’ve heard the popular saying….

One hundred years from now
It will not matter what kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much money I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like.
But one hundred years from now
The world may be a little better
Because I was important
In the life of a child.

When we make a difference in the life of a child—in the life of anyone, actually—Jesus says…

“I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people, you also did for me.” Matthew, ch. 25, v.40

What an awesome thing to be able to give of our time, our talents, or our finances to help others. Whether it’s helping a child in another country who might not otherwise receive an education or enough food, or whether it’s giving to causes here at home that help children, we are loving and honoring God when we do it.

Helping kids doesn’t only impact their lives today, either. It impacts their lives tomorrow. It can even impact the lives of their children and their children’s children. And even the smallest of acts to help a child can have a big impact on the future of our world.

What about you? Do you have a story or experience to share where you’ve made a difference in the life of a child?

9 Responses to To Help A Child
  1. Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)
    February 27, 2009 | 1:39 am

    I’ve seen over and over the impact of youth pastors and counselors helping teens.

  2. Tara B.
    February 27, 2009 | 1:03 pm

    I serve as a youth leader in my church and i consider an honor. There are so many children and teens that are amazing! they just need people to believe in them. I’ve always been drawn to helping kids, but especially teens. i wanted to be High school teacher forever, but my path has changed slightly…but one day I’ll get there. For now I’m a mommy of 5 and serve where I can. I love having that responsibility. I know what an impact my youth leaders had on me and I can only help and pray that I can offer the same. Kids are amazing…they just need good examples and people rooting them on.

    I’m so excited to have found this “Sister” page to 5 min for mom…didn’t know it was here! ♥

  3. Monica
    February 28, 2009 | 7:58 am

    Hi, Genny,

    We support a child with Compassion International with prayer, letter writing, gifts and, of course, finances. I look forward to the day we can add kids to our Compassion ministry.

    More close to home, our church operates a bus ministry every Wednesday night, bringing in low income, unchurched kids to teach them about Jesus. Very cool. Very much needed. The stories these kids tell! Heartbreaking. But hope lives!

    Great post, I hope lots more reply and think about ways to help children.

  4. selina
    February 28, 2009 | 9:39 am

    I am confused about about the verse, Matthew 25:41. When I look it up, it is not the same as you have posted. I like your verse but would like to know where it is found. This is what I found Matthew 25:41 to say:
    Matthew 25:41 (New International Version)

    41″Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

    Thanks,
    Selina

  5. selina
    February 28, 2009 | 1:39 pm

    SORRY 🙁 I FOUND IT, IT IS VERSE 40

  6. Angela
    February 28, 2009 | 7:01 pm

    This is beautiful Genny. I see so many young broken hearts in this world…but so much hope. As Christians, we are called to be a part of that hope.

  7. Modern Mom Muse
    March 1, 2009 | 3:16 am

    My children & I hosted our little friends & their mommies for a full day of Operation Christmas Child box packing & my kids were really impressed when we delivered our small group’s 18 boxes to the local collection site, where stacks and stacks reached the ceiling all around the room. This will be an annual event for us! My kids LOVED doing ministry work with their friends, and choosing all the items (the day before’s Target shopping spree) that went into their same-age child’s boxes, then the follow-through of delivering the boxes gave that final connection. I am hoping at least one of my kids hears back from their overseas gift recipients, to bring the whole activity full circle. Haven’t gotten the catalog you mentioned in the mail, though. =.{ Still, it was a FABULOUS activity. Not the last of its kind (nor first) for our family, but definitely deep & lasting impact.

  8. little i
    March 1, 2009 | 6:19 pm

    My family sponsors a child through Compassion International. She is still small and can’t write her own letters, so i can’t be sure of the impact it might be having on her life now. i just have to believe that our few dollars are actually making a difference!

    The youth ministry at my church is making a HUGE impact. Our entire church only has 250-300 people in worship on Sunday mornings, but we had over 20 teens baptized this past summer alone. Our youth pastor is phenomenal!

    The great thing is, he isn’t only impacting the present group of youth, either. By being a conduit God used to reach these kids, he has enabled those teens to now begin fulfilling the purposes God has designed them for, which will likely influence other children years down the road! God is good, isn’t He?

  9. momstheword
    March 1, 2009 | 9:57 pm

    I work with the little children in our church and it brings you such joy when they are excited to see you and to be there.

    Just being able to be there in my children’s lives growing up is such a blessing to me. Just seeing my children serving on the worship team at church or giving a testimony or helping out at a church cleanup day is a blessing to me.