“Only if you pay me”: What a Five-Year-Old Can Teach Us About Kids, Work, and Money

“Only if you pay me.”

Manuela met her mother, Evelyn’s eyes as she spoke. Evelyn gaped back at her five-year-old daughter, astonished.

“You were so excited to do your summer play book last week, Manuela!” Evelyn pleaded. 

“Why don’t you want to do it anymore? You can get the sticker at the end if you finish.”

“It’s not a playbook. It’s work,” insisted the rising kindergartener. “You paid me to do the letters and numbers before! I should get paid for this workbook. It’s work.”

On this point, Manuela was correct. The book was meant to keep kids academically engaged over the summer, but she wasn’t fooled by the “play” label. Now her parents were stuck. Last week, they had paid her a quarter when she didn’t want to do the workbook. This week, she wanted the same treatment. Manuela had learned the value of her work—just not in the way her parents hoped.

If you have young children, this scenario probably feels familiar. Many parents deeply want to teach their kids financial basics, but don’t know where to start.

New Year’s Eve often means people asking what your resolution is — but maybe you don’t have one yet. Or maybe you do, and you’ve struggled in the past to stick with it long enough to make real progress. We’ve been there. Around March, it’s easy to realize what slipped by the wayside in between morning drop-offs, traffic-filled commutes, grocery lists, and endless cups of coffee.

Let this year be different. Instead of white-knuckling your way through change, what if you invited truth, encouragement, and steady guidance into the journey? Books have a way of slowing us down, helping us reflect, and gently calling us toward the life we truly desire — one shaped by wisdom, faith, and intentional choices.

We’ve gathered six books below that make follow-through feel possible again. They speak to real struggles, offer practical next steps, and ignite a renewed desire for growth that lasts beyond January. Whether you want to reset your rhythms, deepen your faith, strengthen your prayer life, or find clarity in a season of transition, there’s something here that will meet you right where you are.

Check them out — and choose the one that will help you step into the new year with hope and purpose.

It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Psalm 127:2

The lie of anxiety is that something “out there” will give us the calm we crave. So we
push ourselves, keep searching, try harder. Have you noticed this feeling during the
holidays, especially? I have.

But this one phrase in Psalm 127:2 changes everything: “For God gives rest.” This kind
of rest isn’t about a lack of physical activity. God encourages us to enjoy his good gifts,
be productive, and take steps of obedience. Instead, this is about resting from anxiety-
based striving that exhausts us and leaves us feeling empty.

Anxiety tells us having inner peace is about what we can get. The truth is, inner peace
is something only God can give. What our souls truly need can’t be bought or built;
it can only be bestowed on us by a good God who invites us into grace.

God, give me the wisdom to know when anxiety is pushing me.

Now that December is here, we can unashamedly jump for joy as we break out all the Christmas decorations, sugar cookie recipes, and (of course) our favorite seasonal books. But this time of year isn’t only about re-reading the Christmas classics—it’s also a wonderful opportunity to refresh your child’s bookshelf with stories that point their hearts toward truth, courage, creativity, and joy.

Whether you’re hunting for the best Christmas books for kids or simply looking for meaningful gifts to tuck under the tree, this season invites us to slow down and share stories that shape our little ones in all the right ways.

There’s something special about gathering close with our kids or grandkids and opening a book that captures their imagination. Some stories help them understand the wonder of Jesus’ birth. Others gently walk them through big feelings, remind them that God loves them, or simply make them laugh until they can’t breathe. And sometimes the best gift is a book they’ll return to again and again as they grow.

Below you’ll find a collection that includes a few beloved Christmas titles, beautifully illustrated picture books for everyday reading, and thoughtful gift ideas that encourage faith, resilience, and delight.

“For unto us a Child is born” Isaiah 9:6

Has your family started planning meals for your holiday get-togethers? If a charcuterie board is somewhere in your planning, you’re so on-trend.

Three hundred years ago, a great deal of thought was put into meals for a man who was so laser-focused on his work that for almost three weeks, he refused everything prepared for him. He barely slept. Those who brought him food returned many hours later to find it untouched. Day after day. 

Messiah

The task with which the man was so obsessed? Committing to paper what the Holy Spirit was moving him to pen, a masterpiece we now know as Handel’s Messiah. The motivation that kept George Frideric Handel up at night—furiously scribbling so he didn’t miss any nuance—was rooted in what had kept Isaiah the prophet up all night 2,400 years earlier—a voice from heaven speaking into the darkness: 

For unto us a Child is born, 

Unto us a Son is given; 

And the government will be upon His shoulder, 

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

My flight was delayed—­again—­and as I’d been sitting for over three hours, I decided to stretch my legs and walk the length of the airport concourse. I saw a woman sitting by herself at an empty gate, and I could tell that she was crying. She had pulled a headscarf down over her face, but her shoulders were shaking. I sat down beside her and waited. After a few moments she lifted her head and looked at me.

“Can I help?” I asked.

Lost and Alone

She shook her head and said something, but it was in a language I didn’t recognize or understand. She was clutching a piece of paper in her right hand, and I touched it, as if to ask if I could see it. Reluctantly, she passed it to me. It was a phone number, so I decided to call the number, hoping whoever was on the other end could help.

When a man answered, I tried to explain what was going on, describing the woman as best I could. He told me it was his mother. I passed the phone to her, and her face lit up.

These stories offer a refreshing mix of tones and settings—some nostalgic and traditional, others lighthearted and modern—but all of them capture the goodness of the season. You’ll find gentle romances, heartfelt family themes, and characters learning to open their hearts to hope again. Historical readers will enjoy stepping back into quieter times filled with charm and seasonal warmth, while contemporary fans will appreciate stories that feel relatable and real, with just the right touch of holiday sparkle.

What ties these books together is the way they slow you down and invite you into a world where kindness matters, relationships are mended, and love has room to grow. Whether the pages take you to a cozy small town, a countryside manor, or a snowy little community preparing for Christmas, each story offers its own sense of comfort.

These novels make wonderful companions throughout the holiday season—perfect for evenings when you want something uplifting, or mornings when you’re easing into a busy day with a warm cup in hand. If you’re looking for books that blend faith, gentle storytelling, and the timeless hope of Christmas, this list has plenty of heartwarming favorites to choose from.

A Sea View Christmas by Julie Klassen
Regency Historical Romance

Sarah Summers once discouraged the interest of a handsome Scottish widower, but his return stirs up regret.

As the holidays draw near, our calendars begin to fill, our to-do lists grow long, and the days seem to slip by faster than we’d like. It’s easy to get caught up in the preparations —decorating the tree, baking cookies, wrapping gifts —and miss the quiet invitation of the season: to pause, to prepare our hearts, and to make room for Jesus.

Advent is a beautiful opportunity to slow down our pace and refocus our attention on the true meaning of Christmas. It reminds us that long before the rush and noise, there was a silent night, a humble manger, and a Savior who came near. In the midst of all that needs doing, we can still choose to create moments that draw our hearts back to Him.

One simple yet meaningful way to do that is through reading. A good book can help us step away from the hurry and rest our minds on truth and beauty. Whether it’s a devotional that draws us closer to God, a story that sparks joy and gratitude, or a children’s book that helps little hearts understand the wonder of Jesus’ birth, these stories have a way of bringing light and peace into our homes.

As Thanksgiving draws near, we’re reminded that gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s a posture of the heart. Whether we’re walking through seasons of abundance or longing, God’s presence remains our constant. This is a time to pause, reflect, and recognize the quiet ways He’s been faithful. Even in the waiting, there is reason to give thanks. 

From stories of surrender to reflections on joy and spiritual renewal, each title offers a pathway to deeper trust in God. This Thanksgiving, we invite you to explore books that help you think differently, live more intentionally, and embrace joy that lasts. May your heart be lifted and your spirit renewed as you discover the beauty of God’s provision. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us.

The Homemade Pie Cookbook

With tasty recipes, gorgeous photos, and clear instructions that take you step-by-step through the entire process of baking the perfect pie, The Homemade Pie Cookbook will convince you that you can bake the pies you grew up loving–as well as many more you always wanted to try.

Maybe best of all–every recipe has a photo.

Prayer Journal for Women

An elegant, keepsake-quality journal perfect for your daily quiet time notebook for you to record and remember your prayers and conversations with God.

Have you ever thought about how to explain foster care to young children? It can be challenging to find the right words to describe sensitive situations in ways that honor everyone involved. We’re grateful to highlight a new resource that does just that.

God Loves Kids is written by Jamie C. Finn, the founder and president of Foster the Family, a national nonprofit that serves vulnerable children and the families welcoming them, as well as the founder of the Filled Gathering, the largest gathering of foster and adoptive moms in the world.

She shares about the real life of a foster and adoptive mom on her popular social media accounts, is a sought-after speaker, and is the mother of seven children through foster care, adoption, and birth.

Beautifully illustrated, God Loves Kids is a trauma-informed, gospel-centered children’s picture book designed to help you navigate difficult conversations about foster care with kids ages 3+.

Beginning with God’s initial plan for kids and families, the story introduces, with compassion and sensitivity, the challenges that bring about the need for foster care, what it looks like for foster families to show up for kids, and the different feelings everyone involved in foster care may experience.