Teach it All

I was blessed to grow up in a family of faith in a home with parents and grandparents who believed in God. We went to church together, I remember them all reading their Bibles and hearing them pray. My grandparents loved the hymns and encouraged me to sing. I was blessed to grow up in a family of faith.

I did not, however; learn how to walk with God on my own. Then, as is still often the case now, parents and grandparents were not taught how important it is for them to teach the children they loved how to walk and talk with God on their own. I didn't understand what prayer was really all about and always felt like my prayers never made it past the ceiling, so when I became a parent, I taught my children about the Bible, the people in the Bible, we went to church and were always involved serving in our church - all great things for sure, but I didn't know how to help them learn to talk with God on their own and this is the single greatest thing I wish I had known to do raising them.

So, now as grandma I understand how essential it is to hand down the faith. But along with teaching them about Who God is, how He is real and they are able to trust the Bible with confidence, I am committed to teaching them how they are able to know, walk and talk with God for themselves. It is essential for them to see and hear about my faith and walk with God - this matters, but they have to have a faith of their own, or in life when difficult times come or someone lets them down - and these times will come and people will let them down - they run a huge risk of being side-tracked and derailed in their faith. When they know how to talk with God for themselves and know Him for themselves, then they are much more likely to hold on to their faith and hand it down to the generations who follow them.

When it comes to handing down the faith there are things we know to do and things we are just learning we need to do as well. Thankfully, there is a growing list of wonderful books and resources available to help us know both what we need to do and how to do it when it comes to training our children and grandchildren and handing the faith to them. Here on Grandmas with Heart we are intentional when it comes to letting you know about resources which will help you grow in your walk and which will equip you to hand down the faith - such as our Book of the Month and the books and resources written by some of the Grandmas with Heart - check this link to learn about them.

Unfortunately there are not many books or resources which you are able to give to your grandchildren/children to help them learn to know, walk and talk with God for themselves. But as we develop and learn about resources which will help the children you love know, walk and talk with God, we will let you know about them. These resources matter and need to be things we get and use with the children we love. I am able to let you know about one such resource - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children. This book will involve the children you love ages four through fourteen in actually praying Scripture for 52 weeks - with you or even on their own! This book is available as a digital download/PDF for just $5 at our Book Store (check this link) - yes, just $5 and you will have the digital copy for the children you love - at this price why wouldn't we just try it?

Teach the children you love. Hand down the faith. Help them learn to walk and talk with God for themselves. Teach it all. These things matter.