What are the best gifts I can give my children?

Genesis 27:1-3One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.” “Yes, Father?” Esau replied. “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die. Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me.”

Genesis 49:1-2Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, “Gather around me, and I will tell you what will happen to each of you in the days to come. Come and listen, you sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.”

1 Chronicles 16:43Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.

Matthew 3:16-17After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Matthew 17:4-5Peter blurted out, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he spoke, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

1 John 2:12-14I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.

Blessing our children by word and deed has powerful biblical precedent. Whenever we deliver good into our children’s lives, we are blessing them. Even Jesus benefitted from his Father’s spoken blessing over his life. Consider, like John in his letter, writing out a blessing for each your children that expresses your deepest delight over them and your vision of a hopeful future for them.