Small ways you can make a huge difference this summer

Whether you see a confused person on the street and offer to help or write a note of appreciation to one of your kids' teachers or bake two pies and bring them to the local firehouse, there are so many different things you can do that are extremely simple, and people are so grateful.

Celebrate Christmas daily.

We love to give and to receive presents. It's the whole spirit of the holiday season. We believe Christmas should be every day. That's how it was with us and Michael. Every day we had Michael was Christmas because we were continually being able to give to him, and it gave us this euphoric feeling. Your whole demeanor changes when you're in that mode. And you don't need to spend money. It can be a gesture or even a comment. The ripple effect that a little act of kindness creates is amazing. Once you're in the groove, you look back and go, “How did I ever do this any other way?” The reward for you will be just as great as it is for the people you are reaching out to.

Set a good example.

We were lucky to have great parents and we didn't know it. We were like a lot of kids; we just took the example that our parents were showing us for granted. Leigh Anne's dad started out as a policeman, and Sean's a schoolteacher. Those are probably the two biggest giving professions in the world.

Our kids look at us every day, and they do a lot of what we do — for better or for worse! If you're a parent or even aunt or uncle or friend, know those around you watch you. Remind yourself to set a good example. You'll create a ripple effect that can expand way beyond your immediate world.

Get one, give one.

This is such a great way to do your part. Every time you buy something for yourself, find something of yours to give away. If our son Sean Jr. buys a new Xbox game, that's fine. He knows he has to keep his grades up and drive carefully. He does the right things, and he can get a new game. But when he does that, we like him to take one of his old ones down to the neighborhood Christian center or the local Boys & Girls Club. Everyone can do that.

Show loyalty.

Sean Jr. is a Big Brother to a little boy, and forever the boy was like, “You're not going to come back, are you?” But Sean does.

Go to a football game on Friday night to be supportive of a friend who's a coach, or if you know someone who doesn't have family in town, ask him over for a cookout. We always wanted to make sure Michael asked all his teammates to come home for Thanksgiving because they hardly get any time off, and many of the kids who lived out-of-state couldn't go home for the weekend. Those were Thanksgivings we will always treasure.

Find ways to give offline.

There are ways to help online, such as donating to the Red Cross or relief in Haiti, but it can also make us a little lazy. Instead of cheerful givers, it makes us lazy givers.

The most valuable thing we have is our time. Giving of money is the easy part. Everybody's Internet needs to break for an hour or two a week, and everybody needs to get out.

Respect every person.

We tend to pigeonhole people according to what they have on or what their shoes look like. Resist that temptation. Be careful how you judge people. You don't know when you may be presented with a little opportunity and what a difference you can make by responding.

The thing you do that you discount as no big deal can really turn into something powerful. Don't always ignore the person sitting next to you on the bus or looking lost on the street. You don't know the value that person has, or what one small thing can mean to him or her.

Get involved. Connect. You'll feel it turn into something great and realize people have tremendous amounts of value. They — and you — can rock this world if you try a little.