This is the final post in a 5-part series about money concepts. Unlike the first four articles that were written in “kid talk” for you to discuss as you wished with your kids, this one is more of a reflection and inspiration for you as a parent.
Main Idea:
Gratitude is a key spiritual practice that helps all of us avoid entitlement as well as remember that money – while a necessary part of this world – is not eternal.
We hope that many aspects of what we do and teach create anchor points for our kids in ALL areas of life – much like the anchor points of a spider’s web. As we talk about different topics and engage in habits and traditions that we choose, we give them something they can build on or come back to as they grow. Our kids’ “webs” will never be perfect, and they’ll endure challenges through life’s circumstances, but we hope the anchor points will hold. (This analogy is applied to faith practices in Meredith Miller’s book Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From.)
The purpose of this series talking about money with kids has been to offer a few ideas for financial anchor points. We want them to learn basic concepts about money, of course, but we also want them to see how responsibility, honesty, empathy, and love apply not just in our relationships, but even in how we use money.
There’s tension, though, right? Because money is temporary. “You can’t take it with you.” Jesus told a parable about a man who built bigger barns to hold his bumper crop and allow him to enjoy life for many years… and he died that night! (Luke 12:16-21). But as The Message paraphrase indicates, the problem wasn’t his barns or his money. It was his focus. “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” (v. 21)
Yes, we need to talk with our kids about comparing prices, budgeting, saving for needs and wants, investing for retirement, and more. But we must also communicate that in the end, the money we accumulate doesn’t matter. It’s how we use it for others, as every New Testament Bible story shared here in the last few weeks has shown.
We must remember to weave gratitude into not only our conversations about money, but also our daily living. Gratitude helps us regularly reconnect with God. Sometimes we need visual reminders to do this, so use anything from a rock to sticker to a toy to help you and your family.
Gratitude, like our physical health, isn’t a skill we learn. It involves habits we practice. As always, we lead by example – choosing to practice gratitude out loud daily even when our circumstances or the events of our day really stink!
The internet offers plenty of creative ideas for practicing gratitude with kids, but it’s as simple as just pausing regularly to name something. Depending on our age, our observations can range from clean air to Cosmic Brownie birthday treats at school… From opening an encouraging text from a friend to opening a beloved bedtime book!
Is there a way you can piggyback gratitude with an established a daily ritual – perhaps the drive to school, dinner time, brushing teeth, or bedtime? If you need a visual reminder (like the Hebrew people’s rocks), place any random object in a location where you will see it daily (such a squishy toy taped to the dashboard, a Lego on the kitchen table, or a plastic spork taped to the kids’ bathroom mirror). Change the item monthly if novelty helps keep the habit alive. Let it simply serve as a reminder to pause and name something you are glad that God has put in your life.
A prayer for parents (by Kayla Craig):
We have fallen into the trap of entitlement. Enlighten us and rescue us from the dark allure of more.
We have reasoned and rationalized the ways we spend our money, forgetting that all we have is Yours.
We thank you, O Lord, for what you have given us. We ask for your guidance to raise families in gospel generosity and lavish love.