Looking back, I remember one of my earliest, most impactful lessons in generosity happened one Christmas when my parents gave us the opportunity to donate a portion—or even all—of our designated Christmas money to a family we knew in need.

Each one of my siblings and I could put a card in an envelope with any amount from $0 to $100 written on it. It was completely private. There was no judgment, no guilt, and our choices weren’t shared with our siblings. (There are 12 of us!) Our parents simply wanted to give us the opportunity to experience what it meant to give sacrificially.

I still remember the internal struggle—wanting to be generous but also weighing what I might miss out on if I gave too much. It wasn’t easy as a preteen. But now, almost 40 years later, I can tell you with certainty that I didn’t miss the money I gave. I don’t even remember what I got for Christmas that year. What I do remember is the impact it had on me, shaping a lifelong desire to look for ways to be generous.

Teaching Generosity Doesn’t Happen by Accident

As parents, we often don’t think about—or even know how—to teach our kids to be generous. Sure, we might tell them to share their toys when a friend comes over, and that is even debated these days, but true generosity goes beyond that. Teaching generosity is something we must be intentional about; we cannot just assume our children will develop it as they grow.

The truth is, generosity isn’t inherent to human nature. We aren’t naturally wired to put others first, and we’re already seeing the consequences of failing to teach and model it. Society is filled with entitled, self-focused people who believe they’re owed something. What we are finding, as no surprise, is that when no one thinks about others, communities suffer.

We’re raising children in a world that constantly shouts, Get more! Have more! Be more! Social media and culture glorify self, rather than service. If we’re not intentional, our kids will grow up believing that their worth is tied to what they accumulate rather than what they contribute. We’re already seeing glimpses of this—the rise in loneliness, the breakdown of community, and the me-first mentality are all signs of a world that has forgotten how to give.

The Power to Change the Future

The good news? We have the power to change the trajectory. We can and must raise a generation that sees generosity as normal and important—one that understands the beauty of giving without expecting anything in return. But it takes intentional effort—not just modeling generosity ourselves, which is important for our kids to see, but also creating opportunities for our children to practice it.

And here’s the key: real generosity isn’t just giving when we have extra. It’s giving when it requires sacrifice. That’s what truly changes hearts and changes lives.

If we want to shift culture—to see less depression, loneliness, and entitlement in the next generation—we need to change the focus. Instead of centering life around me, we need to teach our children to ask, How can I make a difference in the world around me? That’s where we see people thrive.

When we move from a poor me mentality to gratitude, from tightly clutching our stuff in fear of losing it, to opening our hands in love, everything changes. God is a generous God, and He created us in His likeness. We are never more like Jesus than when we live a generous, giving life rather than a what’s in it for me life.

The Secret to a Life of Abundance

Raising six generous kids has been one of the greatest joys of my life. But it didn’t happen by accident. Just like anything worth learning, generosity must be taught, modeled, and lived out daily. As one of the founders of GiveSendGo—a platform built on the power of generosity—I’ve seen firsthand how giving changes lives.

People often come to our platform struggling with fundraising, asking for the secret to success. My answer is always the same—the same lesson I taught my own children about life in general. I lean in and whisper—okay, maybe I say it a little louder than a whisper—Live generously. Be a giver.

When you do that, you will flourish. You will be happier, more successful, and you’ll never lack people who will give back when you find yourself in need.

Teaching our children generosity isn’t just important, it’s essential. If we want them to experience a life of true abundance—not just materially, but spiritually and emotionally—generosity can’t just be a nice idea. It has to be a way of life.

We must model it. We must create opportunities for them to live it. Because a world filled with generous people is a world where everyone thrives.

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The Power of Giving: Why Teaching Generosity to Children Is Crucial in Today’s World

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