77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others

I'm a firm believer in giving back to a worthy cause—whether it be time, money, or resources. But, I also believe that there has got to be a reason for doing so. You can't just volunteer for the sake of keeping busy. You need to believe in what you're doing because it's the only way you're ever going to do the "cause" justice.

Sometimes, however, I must admit that a little humble pie can really straighten out a bad attitude--whether it be mine or the kids. That's why I am recommending "77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others" by Penny Zeller.

This book review is long overdue, but it's one of those things where you really have to be in the right frame of mind when reading it.

If life is too busy, it's easy to think, "YEAH RIGHT! Don't you know how swamped I am?" And if your life is falling apart, it’s easier still to think, “You want me to do what? I can’t even keep things together for my own family, how am I supposed to reach out and touch the life of another?” And yet, that’s just what Penny wants you do.

Penny truly believes that the heart of Christianity is the root of servitude—for by serving others we learn to truly love our neighbors. And isn’t that one of the greatest commandments of all? For Christ said, “Love your God first, then love your neighbors as you love yourself.” (paraphrased)

In Penny’s book there are literally 77 easy ideas for reaching out and touching the life of another and guess what? They don’t take up much money and they’re not things you must do on a continual basis, so they can easily be fit into any schedule.

You may even recognize some of the ideas as being tasks you performed in a Sunday school or Bible study get-together, tasks like distributing cards to those that are sick or in need of a spiritual uplifting, visiting a nursing home and providing company to those who no longer receive family visitors, or supporting a worthy cause through time and money. But you will also discover a few new ideas, like making a gratitude book that showcases all the ways you are thankful for a particular person. Sure, offering up one’s time can be difficult but with 77 quick and easy ideas, I’m sure you’ll find something right up your alley.

At the end of each idea, or activity as she likes to call them, there is an “Up for Discussion” section that has been written to directly address children. The questions and comments give children the tools necessary to truly reflect on the activity that has taken place so that they have a better, deeper understand of what really took place. In other words, it’s meant to prevent the kids from simply doing the activity and never giving it a second thought. There’s even a Bible verse at the end of each activity so that the kids can relate the Bible to real life.

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.