What does it mean to outlive your life?
When I was a little girl, my daddy became temporarily disabled and was unable to work. My momma eventually found a job, but money was still tight. Later, I learned that a member of our church went to the school where my sister, brother, and I attended and paid for our school lunches for the year. That generous act made a big difference in my life and my attitude about giving and serving. In addition, through this act, this person outlived his life.
Outliving one's life requires a servant's spirit. As parents and teachers we serve our kids by feeding them, clothing them, and by teaching them. Each is important, but it is only in what we teach them that they can understand what it means to outlive their life.
How do we do that?
In my opinion, the best way to teach the concept of outliving one's life is by modeling through generosity and compassion. When is the last time you and your children volunteered together to help someone else? It can be something as big as spending time with an organization like Habitat for Humanity or as simple as working at a local clothes closet folding and sorting clothes.
Consider every time you open a door for someone, or offer your seat to a stranger, or take a meal to new mom an opportunity to outlive your life and model for your kids the importance of generosity and compassion.
Teaching kids to do for others is the first step in helping them understand how to outlive their lives!
