By Susan Ciancio
August is National Family Fun Month—a time to put aside work, phones, tablets, and other devices and have fun with your family. Traditionally that means going on hikes, swimming, visiting an amusement park, and so on. But since we at the Culture of Life Studies Program are all about building a culture of life, we want to share fun ways to have fun with your family while building a culture of life either within your home or within your community.
In the spirit of generating excitement for our newest lesson to be released next week (we’re saving its title and topic as a surprise for later!), we are orienting all of our fun suggestions to those of service—whether they be toward your family, your friends, or to strangers.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that ‘everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as “another self,” above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity.’”
When we serve others with love and joy, begrudging nothing and giving of ourselves, we show them their value, we teach them that their lives matter, and we reflect the love of God.
So in addition to serving your family and teaching pro-life values by downloading any of our lessons and learning about saints or important pro-life topics, here are seven ways you and your family can serve others or each other this month.
1. Participate in a food or diaper drive.
As a family, identify a local food bank or a maternity home that needs donations. Then create a shopping list of food or other baby items that this place needs. Go shopping, buying only things for this place (not yourselves as well). Then drop them off with cards or notes of encouragement for the residents.
2. Perform an act of kindness for an elderly neighbor or parishioner.
Those who live alone or who are elderly often have difficulty doing lawn work or fixing things around the house. Identify someone who needs help and then take the family to spruce up the yard or fix up some aspect of the house.
3. Do something kind for someone in your family.
Fix dinner for Mom. Help Dad with a project. Assist your sibling with homework. Take on an extra chore to alleviate the burden on someone else in your family. Doing something kind for someone in your family says “I love you” with your actions and makes them feel valued.
4. Create a prayer jar.
Praying for others is an incredible gift! Write your prayer petitions—for yourself and for others—on a small piece of paper and add them to the jar throughout each day. Take time at the end of every day to pull one out and pray for that intention.
5. Collect or buy toys, books, and/or stuffed animals for hospitalized children.
Sick children in hospitals are often scared and confused. In addition, their parents are usually overcome with worry. As children battle their individual diseases, they need something to distract them and bring a bit of happiness to their days. Stuffed animals and toys help! As a family, organize a neighborhood toy drive or even a church-wide toy drive. Or simply go out as a family and buy some new toys, books, and stuffed animals for these children. Create uplifting cards and drop them off at a local children’s hospital.
6. Visit a nursing home.
It’s a fact that many elderly residents of nursing homes either don’t have families who visit or whose families visit irregularly. This leads to incredible loneliness and even depression. Take some books, a card game, or a board game and go visit and talk to the residents. The greatest gift you can give them is your time.
7. Make blankets for the homeless.
Fleece tie blankets are incredibly easy to make, and children of all ages can help. Simply choose two equal patterns/sections of fleece, cut tassels, and tie them together. Even children who cannot yet tie can help pick out the pattern and smooth the two pieces of fleece together. Then take the newly created blankets to a local homeless shelter or keep them in your car to hand out during the winter months. When you pass a homeless person, give one to him/her with a message of love.
There are so many wonderful things we can all do as families to help those in our lives feel loved and cherished. Taking the time and the effort to care for others is a must. As St. Ignatius of Loyola said, “Go forth and set the world aflame.”
We can do that every day through our actions.
