missions
Dads, ‘Provoke Not Your Children to Wrath’—Even the Fussy Toddler
By tberglund@christianitytoday.com at Christianity Today
· June 17, 2026
· 7 min read
“Nice win! All right, we’re done for the night,” I said to my 6-year-old son. “Time to put the cards away.” “Ugh, I wanted to play another game!” he said, pouting. “Sorry bud, it’s already a little past bedtime. We need to get you to sleep.” Out burst an emphatic “no!” accompanied by angry crocodile
Key takeaway All right, we’re done for the night,” I said to my 6-year-old son.
Why this matters
The challenge of balancing discipline with nurturing in fatherhood is a critical aspect of Christian ministry and faith-based giving, particularly in the context of family and community development. As the story highlights, the biblical command to "not provoke children to wrath" can be daunting, especially when setting boundaries and correcting behavior. However, by recognizing the goal of fatherhood as nurturing and guiding, rather than simply enforcing obedience, fathers can create an environment that fosters spiritual growth and development. This approach is essential in Christian charity and humanitarian relief efforts, where building strong, supportive families is crucial for long-term community development. By embracing a fathering style that prioritizes encouragement and guidance, Christian fathers can help their children develop into confident, compassionate, and responsible individuals, ultimately contributing to the well-being of their communities and the advancement of faith-based giving and ministry.
About this story
Original reporting by Christianity Today . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Christianity Today . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: missions ·
Published: June 17, 2026 ·
Source: Christianity Today ·
Reading time: 7 min
newsletter" aria-label="Newsletter signup" style="margin:24px 0;padding:20px 24px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f 0%,#2d5a8c 100%);border-radius:10px;color:#fff">
Get more Christgiving stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering missions and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? “Nice win! All right, we’re done for the night,” I said to my 6-year-old son. “Time to put the cards away.” “Ugh, I wanted to play another game!” he said, pouting. “Sorry bud, it’s already a little past bedtime. We need to get you to sleep.” Out burst an emphatic “no!” accompanied by angry crocodile
When was this published? This article was first published on June 17, 2026 by Christianity Today and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by tberglund@christianitytoday.com at Christianity Today. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .