“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16
In our Orthodox Christian life, faith is not just something we keep in our minds or hearts — it is something we live and share through love.
Charity, or almsgiving, is one of the three primary pillars of Christian life, alongside prayer and fasting. Through it, we show God’s mercy to others and open our own hearts to His grace.
As Orthodox parents and teachers, one of our sacred tasks is to nurture in our children the joy of giving—to help them see that every act of mercy is a step closer to Christ.
Begin with the Heart: The Spirit of Giving
Faithful giving begins not with the hand but with the heart. Our Lord said,
“When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” — Matthew 6:3–4
Before asking our children to give, we need to help them understand why giving matters. Giving isn’t about seeking praise or significance—it’s about love. When a child offers a toy, a meal, or a smile from a genuine heart, that gift becomes sacred.
St. John Chrysostom reminds us: “Almsgiving is the mother of love, of that love which is the sum of virtues. It softens the heart and imitates the mercy of God.”
Encourage your children to see giving as a way to show gratitude to God for everything He has supplied. Teach them that all we have—our time, talents, and treasures—is a gift from Him, designed to be shared.
Lead by Example: The Family as a School of Love
Our children learn the most by watching us. If they see us joyfully helping others, visiting the sick, or offering food to a neighbor in need, they will remember. Words may fade, but the example of love endures.
“Teach your children to love the poor and to share freely what they have,” said St. John Chrysostom, “for nothing makes the soul so rich as mercy.”
Let your home become a small church where acts of kindness are as natural as prayers before meals. Invite your children to join you when you:
- Prepare food for someone who is sick or lonely.
- Write a card to someone who needs encouragement.
- Donate clothes or toys they’ve outgrown.
- Light a candle together for someone going through a hard time.
When children see love in action, they understand that giving is not a burden—it’s a blessing.
Make Giving Tangible: Hands That Serve, Hearts That Pray
Young children, in particular, need concrete ways to practice charity. They learn best through doing.
Here are a few simple ways to help them participate:
- The Coin Jar: During the fasting seasons, collect coins as a family for a monastery, mission, or Orthodox charity. Let children place the coins themselves, praying for those who will receive the help.
- Kindness Crafts: Create homemade cards or icons to bring joy to parish shut-ins or nursing home residents.
- Food Drives: Bring them to the store and let them choose canned goods to donate.
- The Sharing Basket: Encourage children to place one of their toys in a basket to be given to another child who has less.
St. Basil the Great taught: “The bread which you keep belongs to the hungry; the cloak which you store in your chest belongs to the naked; the shoes rotting in your house belong to the barefoot.” These moments plant seeds that can grow into lifelong habits of mercy
Almsgiving in the Liturgical Year
The Church provides us with meaningful seasons when almsgiving is a central focus, including Great Lent, the Nativity Fast, and even personal feast days like name days and family Slavas.
During these times, we can make charity a joyful family project:
- Great Lent: Begin a “Kindness Calendar” where each day lists a small act of mercy—helping with chores, praying for someone, giving a compliment, or helping at church.
- Nativity Fast: Create a “Christmas Blessing Box” of food, toiletries, and small gifts for a family in need.
- Pascha (Easter): Visit someone lonely or grieving to share the light and joy of Christ’s Resurrection.
- Name Days: Teach your child that part of honoring their saint is imitating their virtues—perhaps by giving in secret or helping a friend.
St. Gregory the Theologian said, “Give something, however small, to the one in need, for it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”
When we align our giving with the life of the Church, charity becomes a rhythm of grace woven into our family life.
Reflect Together: The Blessing of a Giving Heart
After an act of giving, take time as a family to reflect and give thanks. Ask your children simple questions:
- “How did it feel to help someone today?”
- “What do you think God felt when we gave this gift?”
- “What can we do next time?”
Encourage them to connect the act with their faith: “When we helped that person, we were serving Jesus Himself.”
Remind them of Christ’s words:
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” — Matthew 25:40
Such reflection helps children understand that giving is not just about what we do, but who we become, people who live out the love of Christ.
Remember: Charity Is Communion with Christ
Almsgiving is not merely a social act of kindness; it is a profound spiritual mystery. Through giving, we meet Christ in others. We share His compassion, and we receive His grace.
St. John the Almsgiver once said, “The poor are our best friends. They guard our salvation, for they receive and keep for us the Kingdom of Heaven.”
In every act of mercy—whether it’s sharing bread, time, or prayer—we touch eternity. We help our children see that giving is not losing; it is gaining the treasure of heaven.
“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys,” said our Lord, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” — Matthew 6:20–21
Raising Children of Light
Our Orthodox homes can be schools of mercy, where giving flows as naturally as prayer. When we teach our children to share with love, we are shaping not just generous hands but Christ-like hearts. Let every act of giving—big or small—be done with joy, prayer, and gratitude, remembering that love is multiplied when it is given away.
“Mercy is the highest art and the most beautiful offering to God.” — St. Isaac the Syrian
May our families become bright lamps of love and compassion, shining the light of Christ in a world that deeply longs for His mercy.