My oldest two boys get to stay up an hour later than the younger three, so they came into my room after the little ones were in bed and started peppering me with questions about how they could earn some extra money.

Their first idea was to hold a car wash – in our driveway! They said that they wanted to save some money so they could get stuff for themselves, but then they would also give me some money to help pay for supplies, and then they would give some money to church and a little bit to their brothers (IF they helped).

I didn’t want to squelch the idea right off the bat, so I asked some questions about how they would manage the traffic, seeing as we could only get one car in the driveway at a time. I suggested that they go to the study and write a business plan showing how much money they wanted to make and how much they would set aside for themselves, church, etc.

They came back in a little while with a couple of break-downs of how the money could be divided. The 10yo had a list that showed 50% of his profits going to church. I said, “Wow – that’s a lot! What made you decide to do that?” and he gave the sweetest answer I could ever imagine.

Please don’t take this as a pat on my own back, but I’m so proud of him for “getting it.” The boys like to be the ones to put the offering envelope in the basket at church, and I always tell them to turn it upside-down, because our giving is private – between us & God (and the church accountant, but that’s beside the point). They like to peek at the envelope where it shows the amount enclosed, though, and I don’t really mind as long as they don’t announce it; I figure it’s laying the groundwork to encourage them to tithe when they are older. So, back to the conversation …

He told me, “You know how you write that big, huge check to church every month?” Stunned, I just said, “Uh, ok,” and wondered what he was getting at. He said, “Well, I figured if I gave some of my money, then you wouldn’t have to spend so much of yours.” My heart swelled hearing him say that. I tried to explain that Dad and I give because we get paychecks from our jobs, but if he wants to give some, too, then that would be great.

It tickles me to pieces to see that they are thinking about giving as well as making money. We haven’t narrowed down their extra “job” yet, but I have a couple of other ideas brewing … like picking weeds or raking leaves.

Know of any good “job” ideas for a 9-10yo?