Teaching Kids to Bless

When I said on this page last month, “check back for specific ideas and suggestions,” I was thinking that I would have to come up with something for this month. But, I should have known that wouldn't be the case. After all, I told you that children will surprise you with their ideas. And my grandson has done just that.

He is 8 years–old and getting close to finishing 2nd grade. He comes to my home after school each day while his parents are working. I help him with his homework and ask about his school day. Consequently, I have learned many interesting facts about desert plants, Australia, wild boars, jackrabbits, lizards, and–most recently–the tropical rainforest.

“Did you know that they’re cutting down about 100 trees an hour in the rainforest?” he asked me one day in the car on the way home. “Me and some of my friends are starting a green club to make them stop it.” When I asked how this group of 2nd graders intended to do such a thing, he said, “We’ll make signs and tell them to stop. And we’ll make signs and tell people to save the rainforest.”

Back at home, he went out to play after snack and homework. I went back to working on the website. Following a link sent to me by a friend, I checked into creating and selling products to support the BlessingCasters. He came back and found me in the office, making a bookmark design. Taking a break from my work, I showed him a site where you can click and give money to save the rainforest. The link (http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4) had been sent to me via email by the same friend. After clicking, he came up with an idea.

“Hey! You know how to make bookmarks and I want to tell all the kids in my class about this web site. Could we make bookmarks for all of them with this website on it?” And so, I put aside my other work for about an hour and we designed bookmarks for him to take to all his friends. It cost me an hour of time that normally bills at $35-40 and maybe $3 for the printing. The inconvenience was worth it to empower my grandson to take a shot at making a difference in an area he cares about. So, take a tip from him, make bookmarks with a message for a group you’d like to reach on an issue they might be open to hearing about.

Check back here monthly for specific ideas and suggestions, projects or causes that children could work on with their parents or a trusted adult. If you have suggestions to contribute, please email them to revtona@blessingcasters.org.

God bless you and protect you!
God deal kindly and graciously with you!
God bestow favor on you and grant you peace!