“All my life belongs to God.” This is a concept that can be very difficult for children to grasp, especially to the toddlers whose favorite word is, “mine.”
Let’s start with the definition of stewardship, “the job of supervising or taking care of something that one does not own.” From a Christian viewpoint, everything we have is God’s – we are just overseeing it because he has entrusted us with it. We are being caretakers of God’s kingdom. God has given us the privilege to take care of his things in this world. What an amazing honor!
It is never too early to help your children to grasp this idea. One of the simplest ways children become good stewards is to take care of their things!
Another great way to teach them is to share and maybe do a service project to help those in need. Instilling the concept of stewardship in children early on may help them realize that in adulthood, “Happiness begins with unselfish giving.” (Fr. Tim O’Neill)
Love,
Deacon John