I remember when I was younger our church had an evangelist preach every year for Grandparents Day. His name was B.M. Page. I am not even sure if he ever preached on the blessings of being a grandparent. Truthfully, I can not remember anything he preached. I only remember his one 'famous' saying, "Cheer up, you'll soon be dead!"
I do recall my mother asked our pastor what were the duties of a grandparent to the grandchildren, and he said, "None." That bothered my mom and kind of bothered me also. The only grandparent I had was my dad's mom. She lived in Henning, Illinois and we did not get to see her as often as we would have liked. She died when I was ten. I do remember that she loved me. I remember asking her once if she was a Christian and she said she tried to be a good one. I am not sure what she meant by that statement. I pray that she did know the Savior and I will see her in heaven one day.
But with eight grands of my own, I believe that grandparents do have a responsibility to their grands. I know in this day and age a lot of grandparents are raising grand children because of different reasons. But even if they (we) are not raising them we have a great responsibility in front of us.
I was reminded of this during my devotions last week. Deuteronomy 4:9, "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;"
I know this refers to the Israelites and the works God did for them, but I believe they are a reminder that we serve the same God and we have a responsibility to teach them to our children and grandchildren. Sometimes teaching comes is small quiet moments. Sometimes just an action or a small comment of the faithfulness of God.
I know my children may or may not follow the way of life in which they grew up. They have spouses that have a different upbringing and thoughts that will bring a uniqueness to their homes. When children come along it will change again. I am reminded of this almost on a daily basis. Not only are Hubby and I living our lives in front of my children who are still living at home, but it is lived out in front of our adult children as well as their children. They are seeing they same challenges and struggles we faced when they were younger, but on the flip side...as parents.
Yes, we have a responsibility to our grands. We need them to know what a great God we serve and how He has seen us through many trials. They need to see the awesomeness of God. They need to know that He does answer prayer and He gave His only Son to be our Savior.
Maybe you or someone you know has grandchildren and they are not allowed to teach them about the love of God. Teaching comes in so many ways. Sometimes a quiet example through life's difficulties can speak volumes.
Then in the right time, God's time, the door will open and you can tell them about the wonderful and awesome God you serve.
I do recall my mother asked our pastor what were the duties of a grandparent to the grandchildren, and he said, "None." That bothered my mom and kind of bothered me also. The only grandparent I had was my dad's mom. She lived in Henning, Illinois and we did not get to see her as often as we would have liked. She died when I was ten. I do remember that she loved me. I remember asking her once if she was a Christian and she said she tried to be a good one. I am not sure what she meant by that statement. I pray that she did know the Savior and I will see her in heaven one day.
But with eight grands of my own, I believe that grandparents do have a responsibility to their grands. I know in this day and age a lot of grandparents are raising grand children because of different reasons. But even if they (we) are not raising them we have a great responsibility in front of us.
I was reminded of this during my devotions last week. Deuteronomy 4:9, "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;"
I know this refers to the Israelites and the works God did for them, but I believe they are a reminder that we serve the same God and we have a responsibility to teach them to our children and grandchildren. Sometimes teaching comes is small quiet moments. Sometimes just an action or a small comment of the faithfulness of God.
I know my children may or may not follow the way of life in which they grew up. They have spouses that have a different upbringing and thoughts that will bring a uniqueness to their homes. When children come along it will change again. I am reminded of this almost on a daily basis. Not only are Hubby and I living our lives in front of my children who are still living at home, but it is lived out in front of our adult children as well as their children. They are seeing they same challenges and struggles we faced when they were younger, but on the flip side...as parents.
Yes, we have a responsibility to our grands. We need them to know what a great God we serve and how He has seen us through many trials. They need to see the awesomeness of God. They need to know that He does answer prayer and He gave His only Son to be our Savior.
Maybe you or someone you know has grandchildren and they are not allowed to teach them about the love of God. Teaching comes in so many ways. Sometimes a quiet example through life's difficulties can speak volumes.
Then in the right time, God's time, the door will open and you can tell them about the wonderful and awesome God you serve.
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| "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." ~Joshua 24:15 KJV |
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| My daddy with my two youngest (Sept 2012) |
I say all the time I can not wait for grand babies... in a very long time from now.
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