50 IN A CHILD’S MIND: A CAR—$$$; A
COMPUTER—$$; A DESIGNER ITEM—$; YOU—PRICELESS!

I saw this TV ad for MasterCard. It named off all the things that MasterCard could buy and then it listed what MasterCard could not buy because that experience was priceless.

Children love for us to buy them things. But we cannot buy love. We cannot buy any substitutes for our presence, our time, and our love.

Children want us, not just our money and provision.

If you are trying to buy your child’s love or if you feel guilty about not being with your child and assuage your guilt with buying stuff, then you are loving stuff and using your family instead of loving your family and using stuff.

Your child doesn’t need stuff; he needs you.

So, what are you giving your child? Summarize the last three days and write down the amount of time you have spent with your child(ren).

Day 1: ___________________________________________

Day 2: ___________________________________________

Day 3: ___________________________________________

Now ask the Father: Am I spending enough time with my child so that what he really gets is me and not stuff?

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deut. 6:6–9).