Be a Hero to your Children

Love doesn’t have to be loud to be lasting. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about the quiet, steady ways you can show love to your children — whether they’re still at home or have families of their own. Discover how simple gestures — a kind word, a listening ear, a shared laugh, or a favorite meal — can become the threads that hold your family together. 

NEW! - Companion Resource:
This month’s episode pairs with February’s eWorkbook, The Hero at Home, filled with worksheets, tips, and simple tools to help you live out small deeds with purpose.

Transcript

Episode 203: Small Acts of Love for Children (young or grown)

Welcome back to the porch! Grab a cup of something delicious to drink, pull up a rocker, and let’s settle in for a visit.

For those of you who are just joining us on the porch, I’m Julie, and this podcast is just one piece of what I do. I’m also a blogger and a writer of both the non-fiction Simple Life series, as well as fiction – mostly in the southern suspense genre. If you want to learn more about that, just check out the show notes for links to my websites and books. 

This year we are working on how to Be Someone’s Hero — A Year of Small Deeds, Quiet Strength, and Meaningful Impact through the lens of a Simple Life. Each month we’ll talk about how you can be someone’s hero in different areas of your simple life. And if you want to dig even deeper into the topics and apply what you’re learning, each month I’m offering a downloadable Workbook that follows along with the monthly conversations. In it you will find over 20 pages of thoughtful explanations, Tips, Checklists, Worksheets, a recipe, a simple DIY project and more. To get your copy, simply click the link in the show notes. It will take you straight to my shop.

 Now that we have the business end taken care of, let’s take a look at today’s topic.

You know, sometimes we get this big idea in our heads that love has to be grand. That if we’re going to make a difference in someone’s life — even our child’s life — it has to be something big, bold, and beautiful. Something worthy of a photo or a post, something that’ll make them remember us when they’re old and gray. But the truth is… most of the time, love looks small. And it looks simple.

Love is slipping a warm plate of pancakes on the table – because it’s their favorite. It’s listening to that long story about a cartoon or something that happened at school when your mind is already three steps ahead on your to-do list. It’s letting them win at a board game once in a while — not because they’re little, but because you’ve learned that love sometimes looks like surrendering the last word, or the last cookie.

Today we’ll be talking about small acts of love for children — whether those children are still chasing bubbles in the backyard or have children of their own. Because no matter how grown-up they get, they’re still our children. And small acts of love, the kind that come from a place of faith and presence, are something they never outgrow.

Maybe your children are still under your roof. Maybe you’re in that busy, noisy season where the days blur together and the laundry multiplies when you’re not looking. Or possibly, your house is quieter now. Your children have flown the nest, started families, or moved across the country. Whatever season you’re in, there’s one truth that never changes: love still needs to be shown.

And not just the kind of love that says “I’d do anything for you” — though that’s important too — but the kind that says, “I’m here. I see you. You mean the world to me.” That’s the love that lingers. The kind that reminds them they have roots, not just wings.

What do these small acts of love look like? Sometimes, love looks like showing up. For the little ones, that might mean being there for bedtime stories, school plays, or that 900th trip to the playground when you’d rather sit quietly and read a book. For the grown ones, it might mean answering the phone even when you’re tired, or remembering to check in on a hard day. It’s not always glamorous- but then again, real love rarely is. Showing up says, “You matter enough for me to be here.”

Sometimes, love looks like listening. Not to correct, not to advise, but to understand. When they’re little, that might mean nodding through endless chatter about dinosaurs or best friends or big dreams. When they’re grown, it might mean giving them space to vent without jumping in to fix things. Sometimes, your presence is the only thing needed — not your plan.

Other times, love looks like service. Small, simple things. Keeping a stash of their favorite snacks. Cooking their favorite meal when they visit. Dropping off a little care package when life feels heavy. When they’re little, service might mean a warm blanket fresh from the dryer or an extra hug after a rough day. When they’re grown, it might mean helping with their kids, sending a surprise card in the mail, or being that safe place they can always come home to.

Love can also look like words. Words carry power — they’re seeds that can take root for years. A whispered “I’m proud of you,” a note tucked in a lunchbox, or a quick text that says, “Thinking of you today.” Words that affirm who they are. Don’t underestimate what a few gentle words can do in a world that shouts criticism. You might be the only soft voice they hear all day.

And then there’s grace. The kind that takes a deep breath when you’d rather snap. The kind that remembers you’ve needed forgiveness, too. Grace is love stretched wide — wide enough to cover mistakes, misunderstandings, and moments you’d rather forget. It’s the look across the table that says, “We’re good,” even when the day hasn’t been. Grace is a gift both small and grown children need in every season.

Now, before you start thinking you’ve got to do all these things perfectly — stop right there. You’re not being called to perfection. You’re being invited into presence. That’s where love blooms. Not in the perfectly planned moments, but in the real, ordinary ones. The ones where you’re tired but still say yes to a bedtime story. The ones where you mess up and say, “I’m sorry.” The ones where you laugh together over a spilled glass of juice or a shared memory. That’s where love lives — in the middle of life, not outside of it.

Sometimes the hardest part of loving well is slowing down enough to see the opportunities. Love doesn’t usually shout; it whispers. It’s in the quick phone call that says, “I was thinking about you.” The simple act of remembering a favorite song or keeping a tradition alive. When you live with open hands and a willing heart, love finds a way.

If your children are young, you’re planting seeds. Every bedtime prayer, every shared meal, every “I love you” spoken even when you’re weary — these are roots that will hold firm as they grow. If your children are grown, you’re tending trees. You’re pruning with wisdom, watering with encouragement, and letting the fruit of your love bless the next generation. Either way, your work matters. Love never stops bearing fruit.

And don’t forget — love doesn’t always look the same for everyone. Some children feel loved through words, others through time or action. Pay attention to how your child receives love. Sometimes the best way to love is to learn their language. Maybe they light up when you invite them into the kitchen, or when you ask their opinion, or when you write them a note. The more you observe, the more you’ll see what makes their heart feel full.

So maybe this week, love looks like leaving a note on the fridge that says, “I believe in you.” Maybe it’s taking a walk together and letting them lead the conversation. Maybe it’s sending a quick text that says, “Just checking in. I love you.” However it looks, do it with intention — and do it with joy.

Being a hero at home doesn’t mean wearing a cape. It means showing up with kindness. It means choosing patience when the day runs long. It means loving with a steady heart, not a perfect one. And it means trusting that every small act — every hug, every prayer, every word of encouragement — adds up.

So, here’s a little reminder: you don’t have to wait for the “right” time. Love now. Love simply. Love quietly. Because small acts of love, done faithfully, ripple farther than you’ll ever see.

Whether your children are still tugging at your sleeve or calling from states away, go ahead and show them love in the small, steady ways that matter most. Be the hero at home who loves with grace, serves with joy, and stays present in the moments that shape a lifetime.

Because in the end, love isn’t measured in miles or milestones — it’s measured in moments. And those moments? They’re holy ground.