How to Steward Summer Break with Brian Holtz

These small responsibilities may not take much time, but they can help build accountability and a work ethic. They also remind children that being part of a family means contributing to the household's well-being.

Each family can decide whether certain chores should be paid or simply expected as part of living together. Either way, the goal is not merely to complete tasks. The deeper goal is to help children understand that work is a meaningful part of life and stewardship.

Play Creates Memories

Summer is not only a time for work. It is also a time to enjoy the gift of family.

Fun matters—not just for children, but for parents and grandparents as well. Many families spend the fall, winter, and spring looking forward to summer, hoping for more time together. But meaningful memories rarely happen by accident. They usually require some planning.

Brian’s family has a tradition they call the “summer of fun.” They choose a handful of activities they would not normally do during the school year and randomly select one every few weeks. To make it even more exciting, they use a Price Is Right-style spinning wheel to choose the activity.

The activities do not have to be expensive. They may include going out for ice cream, visiting a favorite restaurant, having a picnic, or doing something outdoors together. Sometimes, they may include a bigger adventure. One year, Brian’s oldest child spun the “big ticket” item—a weekend trip tubing down the Chattahoochee River.

The point is not extravagance. The point is intentionality.

Simple moments of joy can become lasting memories. And in Brian’s family, participation in the “summer of fun” is connected to completing daily duties. That gives the children an added incentive while reinforcing the connection between responsibility and enjoyment.

Rest Must Be Prioritized

The final bucket is rest.

Most parents know that what is fun for kids is not always restful for adults. And what feels restful to adults may not sound fun to kids. But both play and rest are important.

God created us with limits. He designed us to work, but not endlessly. He calls us to enjoy His good gifts, but also to slow down and receive rest as a gift from Him.

In the busyness of summer activities, camps, trips, and family plans, rest can easily be overlooked. That is why families need to make room for quiet, unhurried time. Sometimes that may mean protecting an evening at home. Sometimes it may mean a slower morning, a Sabbath rhythm, or a break from screens and schedules.

Rest reminds us that our worth is not measured by productivity. It teaches children—and reminds adults—that we are dependent creatures who need God’s provision, not just our own effort.

Stewarding the Summer Well

Summer is a gift to stewards. It gives families a unique opportunity to shape character, build memories, and practice rhythms that reflect God’s design.

Work teaches responsibility. Play creates joy and connection. Rest reminds us to trust the Lord with our time.

As Psalm 90:12 reminds us, wisdom begins when we recognize that our days are numbered. We cannot control how quickly the summer passes, but we can choose to receive it as a gift and steward it with purpose.

So this summer, consider how your family might make room for work, play, and rest. Not as a rigid formula, but as a faithful way to number your days and seek a heart of wisdom.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• I own a rental house and am starting my second eviction for non-payment. I’m considering selling, though the house is next door to my daughter, and she’d prefer I keep it. I owe about $50,000; it may be worth around $169,000, and it rents for $1,300 a month. Given the market and my family situation, should I sell now or keep it?
• I have a property owned by a nonprofit that has shut down. I’d like to sell the property and donate the proceeds to a 501(c)(3) church. What steps or forms are required, and is that handled at closing, or are there special rules for selling nonprofit property?
• I’ve never invested before, and I don’t plan to retire in the traditional sense. How should I think about saving, spending, getting out of debt, and investing? I’d also like to invest in line with my values, but I only have a landline and regular mail—no internet. How can I pursue faith-based investing with those limitations?
• I’m 60 years old. If I claim Social Security at 62, will my benefit increase at ages 65 or 70, or will I be locked into the lower amount from claiming early?

Resources Mentioned:

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)
• Compass Financial Ministry
• Eventide | OneAscent | Timothy Plan
• Fidelity | Charles Schwab
• Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West
• Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money
• Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety
• Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool
• Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA)
• FaithFi App