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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! ‘Tis the season for stores, shopping, wrapping paper, gifts, bows, and ribbons! Maybe you prefer online shopping, or perhaps you prefer handmade gifts, baked goodies and homemade cards. But no matter how you look at it, this is the season for gift giving and what a beautiful reminder of the greatest gift ever given to mankind – Jesus Christ. I must admit that I love giving gifts. But guess what? So does our heavenly Father!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Like our heavenly Father, we give to those we love. But toys and trinkets get broken, clothes get worn out and outgrown, electronics lose batteries and stop working, and the latest fad becomes next year’s obsolete. So, I ask myself, What can I give that will last? What type of gifts can I give that have true value? Listed below are 5 gifts that parents can give that will never become broken or outdated.
TIME
In a world of busyness, one of the most wonderful gifts we can give our children is time with them. December is probably the busiest month of the year for us. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we go nonstop. There are people to visit, parties and programs to attend, gifts to make, shopping to do, and so much more. But life is short. This truth is especially evident when it comes to children. They do not stay young forever. They grow up fast. We need to slow down and give our children something that will matter – time. Time with us, time to play games, time to talk, time to come apart from the world, time to meditate upon God, time to read together, and time to be a family. When they grow up and look back at their life, these are the things they will remember.
A PEACEFUL HOME
Another gift we can give our children is a home filled with peace. The world is hectic and noisy, but our homes should be a gentle haven of rest for our children. Our children should not have homes filled with screaming and shouting but with soft answers and love. The fruits of the Spirit should be manifested in our homes – love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. A home filled with peace not only blesses our children, but is a true witness to the world around us. Those who visit should know that our home is different and be drawn to the love that guides us. A home filled with peace is a superb gift to give children of all ages.
PARENTS WHO LOVE EACH OTHER
Another gift that is so overlooked in our modern culture is a strong marriage. One of the best ways to love our children is to love God first and our spouse second. This speaks volumes to our children. Theodore Hesburgh is credited with saying, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” When parents are united, the children are blessed. In addition, a strong marriage will strengthen our children’s faith as it is a testimony to the world for God’s glory.
CHARACTER TRAITS
When giving gifts, let’s not forget the gift of hard work and diligence. Society will tell a child that you should do as little as possible to get as much as possible. It is this fallacy of thinking that has led to a lazy and entitlement mentality. But give your children the gift of learning how to work hard and they will always be able to thrive. In addition, it is pleasing to the Lord. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:23.
Another character trait to give is inner beauty (especially when it comes to our daughters). Godly women are not born but raised. Many want their daughters to have fashionable clothes and the latest styles and would be alarmed if they walked around in dirty clothes. But how many care if their daughter has a filthy heart? To teach and train our daughters about inner beauty that is acceptable to God is a divine gift we can give. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)
There are many character traits we should work to instill in our children. By no means is this list inclusive, but hard work, diligence, and inner beauty are a great place to start.
BIBLICAL STANDARDS TO LIVE BY
As Christian parents, the things we want for our children should be different than the world’s. Do you want your children to make the team? What about them making it into the Lamb’s Book of Life? Do you want them to get a good education? What about them being educated in the Word of God? Do you want them to be true and loyal to their friends? What about your children being faithful to the Lord and His Church? Do you want your children to be popular? What about them being peculiar? God’s ways are always higher. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed” Romans 12:2a.
There are many worthwhile pursuits in this world, but few rise to the level of training our children to follow the Lord, to love Him with all, to treasure His Word, and to keep His commandments. When we do this, we give our children gifts of eternal value that never tear up, get worn out, or be taken away from them.
Copyright © 2025 by Kimberly Williams @ www.kimberlywilliams.org No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.