Are You a Godly Role Model for Your Grandchildren?

By Ellie Marrandette

My counseling ministry, New Creations Ministries, addresses one’s mental, physiological, and spiritual relationship to health. I pray this article addresses all three in relation to grandfathers and their grandchildren.

Over the years, I’ve read a myriad of books regarding why adults act as they do. Most touched on:

• • what motivates us
  • how to be successful.
  • what’s our “sign.”
  • what personality type we are: Type A, B, melancholy, introvert, and on and on . . .

Notice the common denominator? It was all about “self.”

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

These books were written with the distinct purpose of reflecting how people should view themselves. What self-centered thinking! Everyone got placed in a box, tied up with a brightly colored ribbon. Formula! Have you treated your grandchildren in the same way?

Our God doesn’t and He has a lot of children! We are individuals in His eyes. “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.” (Psalm 139:16)

Our grandchildren are individuals too. Each child has a distinctive personality and a separate need for recognition, discipline, space, acceptance, and approval. Occasionally we might forget that. Therefore, it’s extremely important for grandparents to discover their grandchild’s “Love Language.”

An emotional or affectionate child responds better to physical rewards such as a hug rather than a toy as a reward. They want to know they are worth more than “things.” No amount of materialism can purchase this child’s love. They need to be assured that they are more than simply another possession to own. Give them your gift of time.

Another child might be a logical analytical thinker. These children desire stimulating conversation even more than hugs. Praise and respect them for their curiosity and dedication to studies (and of course hug them anyway!) They’d appreciate a book as a reward rather than a baseball.

Sometimes parents are working sixty-hour weeks to keep up with the ‘Joneses’. They reward their child with “things” rather than what their child’s soul longs for; attention. Unfulfilled, the child searches for approval elsewhere, frequently from bad influencers.

We are God’s children but how much time do we spend with our Father? God accepts us, as we are, faults and all. If we simply want to spend time with Him, He’s always available to listen. Be the grandpa who listens. When encountering trials, steer them into our Father’s Arms, finding comforting solutions rather than criticism.

Our Lord understands our individual Love Language! God doesn’t play favorites. (Romans 2:11) Do the same with those you love. As a grandfather, try to emulate our Heavenly Father’s characteristics. Remember most children correlate God’s attributes first with their earthly father.

What About Our Physical Needs?

Do you wish you had more energy, patience, humor, or even flexibility? Has your grandchild ever asked you to play or do something and you replied, “Maybe later honey, I’m kind of tired right now.” Is that disappointed face forever etched in your mind?

Stay healthy for your grandchildren. If you eat the right foods and exercise faithfully, you’ll retain energy. I’m in my mid-70s but I still feel 30. Unless God has something unforeseen planned, I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Exercise gets the juices flowing and keeps us limber. There are many exercises older people can initiate to remain healthy. Walking, rowing, softball, pickleball, golf, biking, swimming, and yes, even shuffleboard. Stretching exercises are important, and although I personally wouldn’t practice yoga, I do stretch and lift weights regularly. By developing and strengthening your muscles you’ll remain toned and muscle burns fat.

Food Consumption: Everything needed to sustain life and protect the brain was in the Garden of Eden.

The brain feeds primarily on glucose derived from complex carbohydrates: whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Carbohydrates produce energy – they aren’t enemies.

Fruits contain more Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC’s) which fights aging free radicals. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic, and herbs like turmeric, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, and sage rank very highly. Prunes, raisins, garlic, blueberries, and blackberries contain the highest.

Although quick energy is derived from sugar, remember you’re consuming empty calories. Too much sugar ages us. Sugar was created by God and is fine in moderation. I’d rather someone consume real sugar than that artificial chemical junk. Artificial sugars trick the brain into believing more food is coming. Therefore, it releases more insulin to compensate but that only makes us hungrier. Kind of depletes the purpose, right?

Spinach, blueberries, and strawberries improve short-term memory! Any antioxidant will protect brain cells but these three actually restore brain receptors.  Strawberries with walnuts on a spinach salad with a little olive oil are truly brain foods! I’d recommend consuming about 4 ounces of regular low-fat Greek yogurt, strawberries, walnuts, and milled flaxseed each morning.

Blueberries will help restore balance and coordination which we tend to lose as we age.

Eat Fish! Fish is amazing! Its oil restores concentration through the brain/blood barrier increasing brain waves, calming mental stress, and relieving depression. Consume any fish, but especially fatty fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, and mackerel.

Brain cells are lined with Omega 3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation. Therefore, these good fats retain cell flexibility and fight inflammation. If you absolutely hate fish, then at least take a fish oil supplement such as cod liver oil.

Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, avocado, nuts, and milled flaxseed also keep our brain cells flexible and fluid.

Dark Chocolate boosts antioxidant protective polyphenols properties higher than red wine.

Keep the brain’s synapsis active by engaging in card games, word puzzles, reading, solitaire, or other mental acuity game.

Now Have a Wellness Goal!

Your body is your earthly temple. Dedicate it to God. You wouldn’t throw garbage into Jerusalem’s Temple, don’t throw it into yours.

Quit Smoking! Smoking constricts major blood pathways to the brain which eventually decreases memory and mental capacity. Quit this filthy habit that has no redeeming value and hurts everyone around you, either through the air your loved ones breathe, or the pain they’ll suffer when you become incapacitated!

Try reducing colas and caffeinated products which can cause an acidic imbalance. When our body is acidic, we are susceptible to many types of diseases such as cancers, high blood pressure, strokes, and diabetes. Too much caffeine increases anxiety, sleep disruption, higher blood pressure, and ages our cells. Coffee and tea (especially green tea) at least have some nutritional value

Study physiology. God gave us a brain for a purpose.  “So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things . . .” (Ecclesiastes 7:25)

Be a Strong Spiritual Example:

Leave a Godly legacy. Your grandchildren must know God loved them enough to send His only Son to die for all sins. Speak Up! There’s a difference between knowing and accepting. (James 2:19!) Who better to train them than a godly grandfather?

Do you warn them against ungodly influences? Some States today have no rules against stealing and few schools retain godly principles anymore. Many churches have become lenient. They want to be inclusive or entertaining. If there are no rules or boundaries, the child wonders, then why should I live righteously?

In today’s world, there are too many Golden Idols replacing our Lord. Idolatry is anything that we love more than the Lord. Sports on Sunday morning, video games, restaurant breakfasts, shopping at the Mall, you know “fun things.” The child’s thinking, why be in a boring church service?

Make our Lord real to them. Logically make them understand that Jesus walked, talked, and felt much like them – handled situations they are now going through. The Pharisees were bullies. Read examples of how Jesus stood up to bullies. That bully will answer to their higher authority someday. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

God’s Word is powerful! Use it to be the spiritual grandfather God wants you to be!

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4)

After attending Graham Jr. College in Boston and Moody Bible College, Ellie Marrandette earned her Bachelor of Ministry (BMIN) from Trinity Theological Seminary. Fascinated by psychology and physiology, God directed Ellie toward a rewarding healthcare career. She became a licensed, certified nutritional counselor, working with doctors, nutritional centers, and independently as the founder of New Creations Ministries, a faith-based solution in overcoming health challenges. In recent years, God has focused Ellie’s path toward writing. She is the author of four Christian novels, a novella, and a non-fiction book on healthy living entitled, Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese (Nutritional and Life Lessons God Teaches Us.) All can be found Here. Her current endeavor is to complete a children’s devotional this year. For more about Ellie Marrandette visit her New Creations website.

Feature Photo by Momocoach

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