"Harried" in Jacksonville

ONE CENT: Dear "Harried,"

This is a great question and thanks for even thinking about it when you have so little time!  Service doesn't have to be a trip to feed the poor in Africa, or even a ride to the nearest homeless shelter!  It can consist of helping Mrs. Smith who lives next door shovel snow off her driveway when you’re already out shoveling your own.  Maybe the first thing to do is create a short list of helpful things you can do for your closest neighbors (try doing this with your children if they’re old enough).  Perhaps that next time you’re grabbing a quick dinner with your husband, you can get some extra take-out for your neighbor!  Go to our SixSeeds homepage and check out our list of things you can do this day, this month and this year!

TWO CENT:  Dear "Harried,"

At the risk of losing my SixSeeds job, some things are more important than “family service.”  My husband, for example, works hard at his job, so I understand the tension. However, resist the urge to be fatalistic about your ability to serve others.  Instead, be thankful that your husband works diligently to give your family what it has and look for ways to pass that blessing to others without the advantage of a gainfully employed spouse.  While it’s important for your kids to see Dad volunteering, have a conversation with them about why Dad works hard so they can learn the very important value of work!  On the practical side, there has to be time you spend as a family.  (We, for example, don’t miss American Idol, even though we might TiVo it and watch it after it airs.)  Go to the lists One Cent suggests, and look for things you can do in these “off times.”  Writing letters to soldiers could be a nice, quiet activity so you could make it a part of your routine after brushing teeth and before dozing off to sleep.  Above all, don’t let “family service” cause resentment between you and your husband!