Welcome to Make A Difference Mondays, a place to get intentional about starting our weeks focused on the positive and put our heads together to dream up ways we can make a difference in this world!
So yesterday I literally stumbled on these words written by my daughter,
on. the. internet.
“Hi this is Emma Brun here founder of the caring for Chicago project, right now I only have $65 of my $5,000 goal any and every donation will be greatly appreciated, and remember for every $5 dollar donation you receive a chance to win an American girl doll”
I found this adorable plea sent into cyberspace on a pin on Pinterest of all places đ She has been given access to Pinterest, so that she can pin to the group pinboard we share all about her
Caring for Chicago Project.
Caring for Chicago Project.
It really got me thinking about what I can do to be an example and cast an encouraging vision for my kids to grab hold of. I want them to believe that one kid truly can change the world. I want them to take to heart and make their own the words of Mother Teresa, “We cannot do great things, we can only do small things with great love.”
Scripture says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12) So as a parent, how can I teach my children to bring those words to life and embody them in their actions? How can I encourage Emma in her dream to make a difference in Chicago and cast a vision to keep dreaming big, despite all obstacles? I found some resources to share with kids to motivate and inspire them to make a difference – despite their age, despite their limited resources, despite ALL obstacles. I have already shared most of these with my Emma in hopes of educating, empowering, and encouraging her to stay the course in her Caring for Chicago project and I hope you may find them useful as well!
This video was probably the most captivating and compelling resource I have found so far to encourage and motivate Emma that no matter how things may look now, Lord willing she really can help the homeless in Chicago!
I love this practical & beautiful list from Missional Women! It’s definitely relatable and motivational for any kids đ
25 Summer Missional Activities
25 Summer Missional Activities
Seeing examples of what other kids are doing around the world can cast an awesome vision for what our kids can do too!
Tween Serves Up A Side Of Compassion With Food Program
Tween Serves Up A Side Of Compassion With Food Program
âBy this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.â â John 13:35
Make A Difference Mondays is a weekly linkup designed to encourage and inspire us to live each day on purposeâmaking a meaningful difference in someoneâs life in even the smallest of ways. There will be five women regularly co-hosting this link-up that will appear on all five of our blogs and we also have three wonderful co-hosts who will fill in as guest hosts on the occasional day that a regular co-host is not able to post. Read on to learn more about our vision, mission, and how to link up!
Mission
Our mission is to provide a consistent gathering place for like-minded women to build online connections, share inspiration, and provide mutual encouragement and accountability as we seek to live intentionally and make a difference in the lives of those around us.
Vision
Every Monday we will invite bloggers to link-up any blog posts that encourage women to live life on purpose. This could include testimonies or goals from your own life, small acts of kindness or service, creative tips or ideas for showing consideration to others â the possibilities are endless. Our objective is to use our God-given time and resources to His glory!
The Make A Difference Mondays team has created two fun new ways to keep us all connected! Now we have our own facebook community group to stay in touch beyond the blog posts AND we also have a new #MADMlinkup group Pinterest board! We will be pinning our favorite posts from the linkup that inspire and encourage us to make a difference. We are so grateful for you and would love for all of you to join us for fellowship in the above linked community group and you can follow the Pinterest board right here to watch for your posts: Make A Difference Mondays Pinterest Board
Be sure to grab the sparkly linkup graphic or grab the same image in the square version from the sidebar for your posts and/or include a link back here within your posts. Any on-topic posts are welcomed, no matter how old and no matter how many! If you’re linking up a post here, would you be so kind as to reach out in the comments below? I love getting to know new people and it really helps to put a ‘name to the face’ and find you in the linkup đ Maybe even mention the title of your post in your comment? Thanks friend!
Add your link here:
How awesome is it that you’re empowering your sweet daughter to acheiver her vision to change the world!
Thanks SO much for that encouragement Marianne! : ) xo
I love your topic! There is a lesson I heard at a convention a few years back that really stuck with me about how to get your children involved in serving others. Cindy Colley (the speaker) has started giving them out one by one on her blog as “K.I.S.S” principles.
(Link here: http://thecolleyhouse.org/?s=K.I.S.S )
Thank you so much for taking the time to share! Can’t wait to check out the link! Hope your week is off to a great start : )
Wow! Hats off to your daughter! That is wonderful. =)
She might enjoy the book “Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations.”
(Disclaimer: my husband is a co-author so I’m biased, but it really sounds like her cup of tea!)
Thank you so much Courtney! I am totally checking you that book, thanks for the recommendation! I think Emma’s older sister would like it too : )
I understand your desire to lead your children down the road of serving others and believing that they have a purpose. We need to remind them and ourselves of that daily. His Word is always full of that direction, one of my favorites is Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.” Blessings!
Dawn
Thank you for blessing me with your aptly spoken words & encouragment here! Perfect verse for this topic – I do love that one too!
Hi Sybil! This is my first time stopping by (from Influence Network). What a lovely thing your daughter is doing, and what a sweet heart for wanting to take a stand and not just want to help but actually doing something about it! I find that so inspirational! Blessings to you and your daughter!
Hi Kelly! Thank you so much for stopping by and for your sweet encouragement! See you soon around the network! : )
I love hearing about passions to make the world a better place. I bet you are so proud of your daughter and THANK YOU for instilling such important values in her!! I don’t think most parents understand the huge opportunity they have to change the world just by teaching their children to care about others and do something. LOVE IT!
Oh yes I am SO proud of her – she is an incredible, kind, loving, generous kid who is dearly loved by many! I completely agree about what an awesome privilege and opportunity we have in parenthood to teach our children servant leadership – it is no small task, so I hope & pray to steward that role well! Thank you so much for your encouragement today Sarah! : ) Hope to see you again in the linkup and would love to see you in our MADM FB group too!
So inspiring! I love how you are passing this passion on to your daughter! đ
Thanks Jen! : )
Thanks for sharing this encouragement and your great link-up. I’ll mark it down to join in this Monday!!! Thanks for linking up to What You Wish Wednesday. Please come back tomorrow!
Thanks Leslie! I’ll do that and I look forward to seeing you soon at Make A Difference Mondays – Open all week, every week : )