I’ve been writing about how grandparents absolutely
can make a real, significant and important difference in the lives of their
grandchildren – they can point them to Jesus and they can regularly and
faithfully pray for their grandchildren. Doing these things absolutely makes a
real and significant difference in the lives of their grandchildren. Today I
want to write about another thing we must do . . . help our grandchildren have
open eyes so they are able to identify how God works in their lives, develop a
thankful heart and remember all He has done for them.
Throughout the Old Testament we see how generations
of Israelites grew up who did not know God or remember what He did for them.
When this happened, they fell away and no longer followed God. Just a casual look at the world around us
shows how this is happening once again – generations have come along where they
do not know God or remember all He has done for them.
I want my grandchildren to know God. I want them to
have open eyes, so they are able to identify how He works in their lives. I
want them to have thankful hearts and I want them to remember all God does for
them – which is an essential part of them having thankful hearts. So, I’m going
to share with you some of the things I’m doing with my grandsons to help them
with these things . . .
1. I
want my grandchildren to know God – I am intentional about sharing with them how
God is working in my life. I want them to see their grandma knows God. We read
God’s Word together. We talk about how God shows Himself in His Word and in the
world around us.
2. I
want my grandsons to have open eyes so they are able to identify how God works
in their lives – I regularly and intentionally share how God is working in my
life and ask them how He is showing His fingerprints (or footprints as my
five-year old grandson calls them) in their lives. I want them to know God
works in our lives and I want them to have eyes which are open, looking for how
He is doing so.
3. I
want my grandchildren to have thankful hearts – I ask my grandsons every time
they are at my house about the things for which they are thankful. We all share
at meals the things for which we are thankful. I share with them how God has
blessed my life in the past and how He continues to do so today.
4. I
want my grandsons to remember all God does for them – I have my grandsons keep
a prayer journal where they draw and/or write their prayer requests, how God
answers and the things for which they are thankful. I do the same. These
journals help them – and me – remember all God does for us! Even my three-year
old grandson who can not write, can draw . . . or at least scribble and I can
write about his drawing! Over time we go back to see and remember how God
answers our prayers and leaves His fingerprints, and footprints, in our lives.
We remember!
It is true, as a grandparent, I will make a lasting
impact in and on the lives of my grandchildren. I want my impact to be one
which helps them know God, have open eyes to see all He does in their lives,
have thankful hearts and remember God. These things are essential for them if
they are going to be people who love, know and walk with God . . . and there is
nothing more important to me. So, I am an intentional Christian grandparent. I
am intentional about passing on a heritage of faith . . . tomorrow I’ll write
about being an intentional Christian grandparent and share with you the Legacy
Coalition Intentional Christian Grandparent’s Pledge.
What do you do to make a lasting impact in the lives
of your grandchildren which helps them know God, have open eyes to see all he
does for them, have thankful hearts and remember God?
No comments:
Post a Comment