People are generally self-centered. We want WHAT we want, WHEN we want it. It doesn't come natural to us to put others ahead of ourselves, but that is exactly what God calls us to do. In many instances in the Gospels, Jesus calls us to "love our neighbors" and to "love our enemies" - even to the extent of doing good to those who despitefully use us! One of the most useful things we can teach our teenagers is how to step outside of themselves and put the needs of other people before their own. This spirit of service to others not only benefits society, but adds to the self-worth of the individual. As your teens give of themselves to others they generate self-worth, respect for their neighbors and their communities and in the process they build morals and standards that make them better citizens and leaders in their communities.

Service to others has always an important part of our family. From the time my children were quite young, they would tag-a-long with me as I participated in volunteer opportunities. They would help me bake some cookies or a meal for a sick neighbor and deliver them. We would go to the nursing home on a regular basis to visit their great-grandma and others who were in the home. We would participate in Christmas Caroling to shut-ins, shovel snow for elderly neighbors, deliver meals for a local "Meals On Wheels" program, and work in a local "soup kitchen." They didn't always want to participate, but they came to understood the importance of service to others.

As your children mature it is very important to instill the importance of service to others deep inside them, so that it becomes a part of them. A great way to do this is to get them involved in some sort of volunteer work in your church or community. While you might have to be the one to initiate it, letting them choose their volunteer activities will help them internalize the concept of serving. There are many opportunities to choose from and below is a list to get them thinking of things they can do to make a difference in their worlds.

Individual & Family Projects

Every year at Christmas we have a "Christmas Project" where we save money in a special jar and then decide together how to spend it and on who or what organization to give to. Our "project" could be giving to an organization such as the Salvation Army, participating in "Angel Tree" or "Operation Christmas Child", or it could focus on the needs of a family in our community who needed assistance. Since my kids have become teens, we've decided that in addition to our family project, each of us would have our "own" special Christmas project that would focus on service to others and on Christmas Eve we share with each other what we've done and how it helped others as well as affected us personally. This project does not have to be financial assistance, but needs to be a personal sacrifice and a giving of ourselves. For example, this year my daughter wrote out Christmas cards and letters to soldiers who do not get much mail while my son went Christmas Caroling at a Veterans Nursing Home. Both came away with a feeling of respect for these men and women who gave their lives in service to our country and counted it as a privilege to be able to bring some joy into their lives. Having a family or individual "projects" does not have to be limited to the Christmas season. Why not have these projects twice a year or even quarterly, taking the time to share with each other what you've learned from serving others.

Volunteer Opportunities at Church

The local church provides many opportunities to serve others and it is relatively easy to get involved. Here are some ideas to get you started, but be sure to add your own.

* Volunteer in the nursery.
* Become an assistant to a Sunday School teacher.
* Help set up and clean up for Special Events.
* Sing a solo during the worship service or become part of the worship team.
* Become involved in group evangelism events.
* Participate in programs your church may provide for the community such as food banks, thrift shops, providing meals for the sick, and visiting the elderly.

Volunteer in the Community

Many organizations in our communities depend on volunteers to help them provide a service to others. If you take the time to investigate, you will find volunteer opportunities to fit every interest.

* YMCA and YWCA
* Hospitals
* Library
* Youth Center
* Meals on Wheels
* Nursing Homes
* Nursery Schools
* Peer Tutoring in Schools
* Hospice

Volunteering World-Wide

There are many opportunities to serve others that are outside of our own communities. Volunteering outside of their communities will give teens a sense of personal and global consequences of world happenings. Volunteering with these organization varies from donating both money and time. Below are some organizations that reach those in need, world-wide.

* Red Cross http://www.redcross.org
* Food For the Hungry http://www.fh.org
* Samaritan Purse http://www.samaritanspurse.org
* Operation U.S.A. http://www.opusa.org
* World Vision http://www.wvi.org
* Christian Children's Fund http://www.christianchildrensfund.org

Call a family meeting and begin brainstorming for ways that your family can begin to serve others. And remember, teens will best learn by example. When they see you actively involved in service to others, they are more likely to embrace the idea themselves. If you take the time to teach your teens to serve others, you will be teaching them one of the great fundamentals of the Christian faith.