For Generations to Come
We, Arlene and Gary, are both followers of Christ. We have raised our families with this foundation and we are grateful for the influence of our own faithful parents. I (Gary) have greatly enjoyed the privilege, with Karolyn, of “grandparenting” our two grown grandkids. So we want to leave you with some thoughts about sharing the love of God with your family.
When my (Arlene’s) son Ethan was little, he couldn’t say “grandpa,” but he could say “baba.” It has been Baba ever since. My dad says this about holding Ethan, his first grandchild, for the first time: “His eyes locked on to mine. Immediately I could tell he was very special and very smart.” No doubt your grandchildren were also very special and very smart—right from the start! No matter how old they are, you can continue to look into their eyes in order to communicate your love and God’s love.
There are a number of ways you can have a spiritual impact on your grandchild that will last forever. One way is to ask questions about spiritual things. If they go to church, you can ask, “What did your pastor preach about on Sunday? What did you learn in Sunday school?” I (Gary) have been amazed at how they answer that question. They often heard more than I dreamed they would be able to at their ages. If they share some of their church experiences, you can respond to what they share with your own personal stories of faith.
Encourage your grandchildren to be involved in the different programs the church offers. If your grandchild needs a ride, become the driver. Maybe you attend a different church than your grandchildren and your church has midweek or camp activities for kids that their church doesn’t. Invite your grandchildren to attend as long as it doesn’t interrupt their normal Sunday routine with their parents. Summer Christian camp is a powerful time for a teenager to make decisions about God that can change the trajectory of their lives. When a teen is away from home, hearing other people speak at their level, they can make significant positive decisions. If your grandchild wants to go to camp but can’t afford it, you may want to pay for him and a friend to go if you have the funds.
Maybe your adult children don’t go to church anymore. You can gently offer to bring the grandkids to church; your adult child may say yes to have some time away from the kids. Perhaps you can relate to one grandmother named Mary, who is heartbroken that her adult son forbids her to talk about Jesus to the grandchildren. But Mary prays for her grandkids constantly and occasionally takes them to church and reads them a Bible story. Your prayers cannot be stopped. You can pray to give thanks for meals. When your grandchildren hear you pray, they get a glimpse into who you are.
William and Nancie Carmichael, authors of Lord, Bless My Child, have tailor-made a “Grandkid Camp” for many years with such themes as:
Olympics—Running the race (1 Cor. 9:24–27)
Star Wars—When I consider the heavens (Ps. 8)
Power of Creativity—Creation in Genesis
Using Your Talent for God—Parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14–30)
Camp is ultimately about building a relationship with your grandchildren and between the cousins and siblings. The hard work is totally worth it, says Nancie: “My husband, Bill, and I were so honored and humbled two summers ago at one of our camps when all the family gathered to baptize five of our grands in a lake near here. We rented two big pontoons for the day, and all the parents and kids were there. As they each gave their statements of faith, I thought, ‘Okay God, You can take me home now. Mission accomplished!’”
THE BEST INVESTMENT
When my (Gary’s) grandson, Elliott, was fourteen, I asked him, “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?” To my surprise he replied, “Papa, I would like to see the Brazilian rain forest.” That blew my mind! I wasn’t expecting that as an answer. He had read about the rain forest and thought it was fascinating. One month later, I received an email from my Brazilian publisher. Believe it or not, it read, “We’re releasing one of your books and we would like you to come down and do a speaking tour.” Can you guess how I replied? “Sure, I will come if I can bring my grandson and after the tour, we would like to have two days in the rain forest.”
You can imagine the trip Elliott and I had through the rain forest with wild monkeys and alligators! Neither one of us will ever forget that. However, it certainly doesn’t require an exotic environment to connect with your grandkids. The point is, you make memories together. You don’t want your grandchild only to recall playing video games and watching television at your house. What favorite memories would you like your grandchildren to recall about you?
Close your eyes, taking a moment to picture it. As you make these moments a reality, you will be investing in the generations that follow you. Time is a precious gift. Don’t allow it to be wasted with distracting devices.
The Bible tells of a man named Abram who lived in ancient times. When he was very old, God appeared to him to change his name to Abraham and make a covenant—agreement—with him. God said, “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you” (Gen. 17:7). Cry out to God on behalf of your grandchildren so that they will follow the Lord. Your example and expressions of faith play very important roles in shaping your grandchild’s future. Your investment in your young grandchildren today will turn into a grand friendship and fellowship tomorrow as they become adults.
Don’t allow devices to upstage your impact. You are the star of your grandchild’s visit, not the shiny objects found in your home. And that relationship is a precious possession.