What Do My Kids Need?

I have a four-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter. I love them dearly. I would do most anything for them. I want them to have all they need for this life and the next. But, what do they need? How much is enough? How much is too much?

These are some of the questions that my wife and I are asking ourselves. We live a life of abundance. We have a home, plenty of food and clothes, and excess for fun outings. I have noticed lately that my children have turned into great consumers. When my son sees us walking through the door with a shopping bag, he is likely to ask, “What did you get for me?” If we go to McDonalds, my daughter will point out the Happy Meal toy that she wants. And my heart goes out to my children. I want to give them fun things and experiences. My question is: where do I draw the line between giving my children memorable experiences and giving them unrealistic expectations?

I feel blessed that I can provide our children with a home, clothes, and food. I know there are millions of loving parents who are unable to provide one or more of these things to their children. I also am feeling more of a responsibility to teach my children the value of what they receive, and to give them a realistic understanding that not all children have what my children are fortunate enough to have.

We want to teach our children the value of a dollar. It seems that they are too quick to break, destroy, or neglect those things which we have spent money to purchase. We want our children to see the needs of other and compassionately give to others as they are able. Last night, we had our son sit with me and select a child to support through the organization World Vision. He chose a boy his age who lives half the world away. We will give to World Vision each month so that this boy receives food, medicine, clean drinking water, and other essentials. Over time, we hope our son sees, experiences, and comprehends the abundance he has and the little that his new friend has. When our daughter gets a little older, we want her to select a child in the same way whom we can sponsor.

Over time, we also pray that as we sponsor these children, we’ll be able to instill in our children’s lives the value of sacrifice. What can my son do without so that his friend half a world away can get something so desperately necessary for his survival? What can our daughter give away so that another girl half a world away need not be sold as a sex slave?

As I ask these questions, and so many more about what my children value and need, I am also having to assess and reassess what I value and what I need. Do I value things more than relationships? Do I value what I can buy more than what was purchased for me through the blood of Christ? What can I do without so that I can care for the widows and orphans of this world (James 1:27)? What do I need to set aside in personal savings and what should I give away today?