Hearts of Service
In today’s fast-paced world, finding quality family time can be challenging. Between juggling a busy schedule filled with activities—one child hurrying off to soccer practice, another attending piano lessons, and the youngest needing some quiet time for a much-needed nap—it often feels like we’re just passing ships in the night. With all these individual commitments, it becomes essential to find ways to teach our children the value of thinking beyond themselves and fostering a spirit of kindness and empathy and that is why we came up with the hearts of service.
Free printable at the bottom.
A Strong Desire
Participating in church services, engaging in family prayer, and studying scriptures together are excellent opportunities to instill important values. However, I felt a strong desire to do even more. Although we have only one child, our lives can still be chaotic. Between feeding animals, cleaning stalls, milking, preparing meals, cleaning the house, and homeschooling, finding time for extra activities can be difficult. Since we only have one child, I wanted to make a special effort to teach her to think of others. My goal is to help foster joy in helping others.
New Tradition
This Christmas, we embraced a new tradition of serving others and spreading kindness. We purchased a beautiful Giving Manger, which came in an adorable box. We discovered a charming little wooden manger designed to hold strips of hay that represent service throughout the holiday season. The idea was simple yet profound: for every act of service we performed, we added a strand of hay to the manger, gradually filling it up as a visual representation of our efforts to help those around us.
The culmination of this tradition took place on Christmas Eve when we placed a tiny, lovingly crafted figure of baby Jesus in the soft and cozy bedding of the manger. The experience filled our home with joy and purpose. Our daughter was particularly enthusiastic about this new ritual; her excitement and passion inspired us to engage more deeply in acts of kindness.
Reflecting on this experience, my daughter and I began brainstorming ways to carry this spirit of giving and love beyond Christmas. With Valentine’s Day approaching, we devised a plan to show God’s pure love throughout the month. Together, we created a list of thoughtful gestures and acts of service we could perform for friends, family, and even strangers. Our hopes for this new tradition will spread warmth, kindness, and genuine love into our lives.
Heart of Service
We refer to this wonderful tradition as the “Hearts of Service.” To kick off this meaningful practice, start by collecting some colorful construction paper or plain paper. Cut the paper into heart shapes. They can be as small or large as you desire, allowing for a personal touch.
Once you have your hearts ready, it’s time to decide how you want to showcase them in your home. Choose a decorative bowl where the hearts are easily visible. My daughter thoughtfully suggested, you could attach them to a bulletin board, creating a vibrant display that grows over time.
We gather as a family each evening and reflect on our day. We take turns sharing what we did to help others, big or small. After each person has shared their acts of kindness or service, we place our hearts onto the designated display, representing our efforts to make a positive impact.
Have Fun
We hope this new tradition will foster joy within your family, as it has done for ours. Creating shared experiences can strengthen bonds and create lasting memories. May this tradition become a cherished part of your family’s journey, bringing everyone closer together with each passing year.
Here is a free printable sheet of ideas of service and hearts to cut out and decorate with your family.
