D is for…Doing Good

By Shelly Burke

(The posts for the A to Z Blogging Challenge will focus on teaching kids lessons from selected Bible verses. Adapt your teaching to the age of the kids you’re talking with.)

And let us not become weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone…Galatians 6:9

What a reassuring verse, for kids as well as adults.

Ask your kids what they did today, that shows God’s love. Maybe they’ll mention:

     *Talking to a less popular child at school.

     *Being nice to a person even if that person was rude to them in the past.

     *Refused to cheat on a test.

    

Ask your kids why they did/didn’t do these things. Lead them to the ultimate answer: Because it is the right thing to do (or not do).

Ask if they have ever done something that has not been rewarded; maybe they’ve even had someone mock their attempt at doing good. Remind them that even if they don’t get praise or recognition, and even if no one knows what they’ve done, they are doing the right thing—and God sees everything we do. God tells us that we are to “not become weary” but continue doing good things.

Ask your kids about a time they “reaped” the good of their actions. Perhaps they made a new friend. Maybe they had the satisfaction of knowing that they got a good grade on the test, by not cheating! Enforce the concept that we do not do things to get recognition in any way; we do them because it is the right thing to do, what God would want them to do. And even if no one “noticed” what they did, God knows.

They will “reap” the good of their actions, perhaps immediately, with the smile of an ignored child they said “hi” to. Maybe they won’t realize their reward until much later, in the form of an opportunity they get because of their good reputation and grades. Even if we are not rewarded here on earth, we will be in heaven. It doesn’t matter if or when we are rewarded, we should still continue to do good, whenever we have the opportunity.

Ask each child what he or she can do tomorrow, that is “good.” The “target” of the good could be a fellow classmate, a sibling, or someone they don’t even know. Challenge them to do something anonymously, so no one knows they did it. Later you may all choose to share what you did. Again reinforce the principle that we do not “do good” to be noticed, we do good because it is the right thing to do. Set a good example by doing good yourself, to family members, relatives and friends, and even random strangers. 

I'm also doing the A to Z Blogging Challenge at Nebraska Family Times.