When you think back on your grandparents, do you have memories of times spent with them? Are there aromas and tastes you recall? Are there things which once belonged to them and now are small bits of your heritage?
Passing on a heritage involves retelling the family history; telling about the time when you went fishing with your grandpa and then had a fish fry with the day's catch! It is talking about the times when you all went on a vacation together and the car with your grandparents and little brothers missed the exit and they got lost! (On Mother's Day, no less!) It is about sharing a recipe for the most delicious rolls your grandma used to make, and now you are the grandma, you make them for your grandchildren!
It may involve showing your grandchildren something their great-great grandparent used to have . . . in my case I have a bible which belonged to one of my grandmas and a cameo pin which belonged to the other. My one grandma was born more than a hundred years before my oldest grandson. For him to be able to hold in his hands something she held in her hands is powerful.
But even more powerful, and significantly more important, is handing down a heritage of faith. I remember sitting in church with my grandparents; I remember hearing them sing the old hymns! I remember listening as they prayed before meals and with me before bedtime when I had a sleep-over at their homes.
But even more powerful, and significantly more important, is handing down a heritage of faith. I remember sitting in church with my grandparents; I remember hearing them sing the old hymns! I remember listening as they prayed before meals and with me before bedtime when I had a sleep-over at their homes.
Now, I am the grandma. I am likely to leave some things which my grandsons may one day show to their grandchildren - should Jesus tarry so long. They will have memories of sitting in church with me, hearing me sing the hymns and songs, listening to me pray - and me listening to them pray, too.
These things are important and matter; they are about handing down a heritage of faith. I want them to have a faith which is real, one which is built upon a lifetime of choosing to love, know and follow Jesus!
This is my prayer for them, but it is also my prayer for me. I pray and ask God to help me love, know and walk with Him each and every day. I ask God to help me be alert and watching for opportunities to point my three, sweet grandsons to Him, because while I do plan specific times to study God's Word together, I also want my everyday conversation to connect back to it as well.
Heritage - what was handed down to me, and what I am intentional about handing down to my grandsons, so one day they will do the same! #grandmas #handingdownthefaith #itmatterswhatwedo
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