Today I sat in on a session by Tim Kimmell at Scottsdale Bible Church, called Extreme Grandparenting. He is an author and speaker on various family issues. After listening to his great teaching, I was ready to get in the car and drive home…I miss my grandchildren desperately!!
I was reminded that this second half of life, is so important! Games are never won in the first half…and many mistakes and errors can be righted in the second half for a grand victory!! Let’s face it, I am sure I am not the only one who looks back and wishes they could undo and redo certain things. The mistakes I made as a young wife and mother, I can try to recify through the lives of my grandchildren! A few things you learn through experience is…those little imps will eventually fall asleep…or eventually want to eat!!
As grandparents we have a grand calling and can bring five things to the table…five assets:
- Maturity-the years alone vouch for that. We now need to act like grownups.
- Experience-we can whisper wiser encouragement. (note-whisper)
- Perspective-we have learned the longer view of life.
- Assistance-we can help by offering our time, relief, finances and/or council.
- Love-unencumbered with forgiveness and patience.
Love is “the committment of my will to your needs and best interest regardless of the cost.”
We have a grand role as grandparents:
- Being a blessing giver. Each child has 3 driving needs which are security, a significant purpose and sufficient hope. Satan also knows these needs and relently offers counterfeits in place of these needs. As grandparents we can show that they have a tremendous significance, a hopeful future and a sense of call. We can pray for them by name every day, encourage them and give consistant meaningful touch.
- Bearing the torch, shining a steady light that will illuminate their path. We don’t want to do anything to risk that light going out. We need to be a torch bearer of moral living in an immoral world. We should hold the torch up, not chase them around with it. Don’t try to manipulate a grandchild into receiving Christ. It is a work of God, not us. We need to trust the Holy Spirit’s timetable. Also, it is not the grandparents duty to pick at this younger generations about their clothes or music. That is a certain way to shut them out of your life. We need to focus on their heart not the common trappings of youth. Love them like Jesus.
- Setting a standard, by a contagious faith, constant integrity, honesty, unshaken poise, personal discipline, endurance and courage in the face of difficulty. Do our grandchildren see us panic about this economic crisis or do they see an unshaken faith in our God?
- Leaving a legacy. We don’t have a choice on this one…we all leave a legacy, the question is…what type of legacy? We need to leave clear tracks for them to follow. Our true epitaph will not be carved in stone, but in our children and grandchildren’s lives.
“Oh God, You have taught me from my youth, and I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation.” Psalm 71:17-18
