“Love and relate to each child according to their unique design.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 17, 2026
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:11-13
How much should I give my children? It’s a question every father wrestles with. Here’s a helpful framework: I can give them too much money, but never too much time. I can give them too much stuff, but never too much love. I can give them too much responsibility, but never too much preparation. I can give them too much freedom, but never too much prayer. A generous dad learns to discern what his child truly needs and gives accordingly. Generosity begins with attentiveness. Each day, a giving father prays, What does my child need from me today? Listen to their words, body language, unspoken requests, and even their misbehavior, because misbehavior is often a coded cry for connection. Extroverted children won’t hesitate to ask for too much; introverted children need time and space before they reveal what’s stirring inside. Love and relate to each child according to their unique design. Gifts are not meant to compensate for our guilt; they are meant to express our love.
“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light” (James 1:17, MSG),
Here are some best practices I have observed among mentors who are generous dads:
Give the gift of presence over presents. A good gift for your son might be a Saturday morning fishing trip, a hike, or tickets to a ballgame, just the two of you. Your daughter might light up at a daddy-daughter date, a theater production, or a weekend at the beach. The wrapping paper fades, but a memory of unhurried time with Dad lasts forever. Schedule it before life crowds it out. Build father-child time into the rhythm of your calendar with every other Friday night, monthly date nights, and an annual one-on-one trip. Let your child pick the restaurant or the activity. Predictability tells a child, I matter enough that Dad plans for me.
Use words as gifts. Your verbal and written affirmations are treasures your children will reread for decades. Encourage tender hearts, discipline defiant hearts, affirm humble hearts, and gently correct selfish hearts. Use birthdays, graduations, proms, big games, auditions, and weddings to write handwritten notes that say two things plainly: I am proud to be your dad, and God loves you even more than I do. Discern, don’t just dispense. Resist the urge to fix every problem with money or stuff. Sometimes the most generous gift is a hard conversation, a “no,” or letting them work for what they want. Generosity that bypasses character formation isn’t generosity—it’s avoidance. Pay forward what you’ve received. Your heavenly Father has lavished His good gifts on you: love, patience, holiness, hope, faith, and the gift of salvation in Christ Jesus. Pass them on. Speak openly about how God has loved you, forgiven you, and provided for you. The greatest inheritance you can leave isn’t financial; it’s a faith worth imitating.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4).
Prayer
Generous Father, give me Your heart of generosity for my family, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What good gift does my son or daughter need from me this week? How can I pass along the free gift of grace I have received from my heavenly Father?
Related Reading
Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 3:27, 13:22; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Timothy 6:17-18
Worship Resource
Sarah Kroger ft. Nathan Jess: Belovedness
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