His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:3, 5-8

Wise, mature, godly people live aware of the spiritual; they see it in every situation of life. They see the spiritual implications in everything they do, in every situation they are in. This is what we must aim to produce in our (children and grandchildren). To do this we must be spiritually minded ourselves.

Paul Tripp

I’m convinced that one of the finest seasons of life is when your children have grown and gone (but not too far). Then comes that eventful day when one of your adult kids looks you straight in the eye and announces he/she is going to be a parent. It is one of those starry-eyed conversations when you can’t get the questions bubbling up in your mind and out your mouth fast enough. When? Where? How? (Well, maybe not how!)

I still remember sitting in the passenger seat driving to a nearby city with my eldest daughter when she told me she was expecting their first baby. Oh my. Emotions flooded through me heart and soul. I suddenly started imagining all sorts of lovely pink and blue scenarios in my mind. You know the kind. Me cuddling a rosy-faced infant in front of firelight. Me pushing a chortling toddler higher and higher on a swing at the playground. Me teaching an elementary aged youngster how to bake cookies, cinnamon rolls, and more. Me taking a teenager to the mall for a special lunch and some one-on-one shopping. My mind raced ahead through the years with thoughts of sugarplums dancing through my head. Until they didn’t.

A few days after my daughter made her grand announcement I felt anything but happy. I felt scared. I suddenly began reliving all the years of sleepless nights when our four children were infants and we would have done just about anything for an afternoon nap. I recalled those seasons of sickness when one illness would spread from one child to four and then my husband and I would catch it on the rebound. Memories of school worries, school bullies, school crushes, and school work all tumbled through my overactive brain. Me, merely the grandmother to be, wasn’t all that sure that I could go through the trials and tribulations of parenthood even from the sidelines again. Then God reminded me that He is the giver of life, the sustainer of life, and the One who carefully guards each life. Oh, blessed relief.

What a divine assurance I felt when I realized that whatever part we were to play in our future grandchildren’s lives, God would be right there with us, guiding our steps, giving us wisdom, lending us His knowledge and understanding as we sought to support our adult children in the lifelong task of parenting. Amen and amen.

*     *     *

As the title of this chapter suggests, “The difference between a grandparent and grandparent, is well, immense. A grandparent seeks to pack a positive punch of biblical influence into their grandchildren’s lives. They prayerfully seek out the most effective ways to lend a hand to their adult children in both practical and fun ways. They don’t simply seek to spoil their grandchildren with good times or material extras…rather, they realize as Paul Tripp states above, that all of life is spiritual in nature. The wise grandparent will do everything they can to demonstrate and illustrate the love of Jesus Christ to their grandchildren. They begin by investing in prayer before the little one even enters the world. Grandparents, as opposed to grandparents, who are in name only that next generation of relatives, understand how fleeting life is and they proactively look for divine opportunities to point their grandchildren to Jesus.

No matter what the circumstances, grandparents make the most of every day and pray, petition, and put their grandchildren’s welfare near the top of their priorities. Grandchildren are the next generation of believers…or they can be…but only if grandparents and parents love them to the Lord, instruct their tender hearts in the way of life, and give sacrificially for their behalf. Grandparenting…it’s a high and holy calling. Amen and amen.

Takeaway Action Thought: I will seek the Lord for better understanding on the role He wants me to take in grandparenting my grandchildren. Then, I will take practical steps to bring this visionary role into daily reality.

My Heart’s Cry to You, O Lord: Help me Father to go first to You as I seek the best ways to invest in the lives of my grandchildren. Give me an eternal perspective that supercedes everything else. I want to love my grandchildren in ways that will demonstrate Your perfect love but I cannot do this in my own strength. My grandchildren need the light of Your Holy Spirit to guide them as I do. Help me to discipline myself to pray daily for them, to intercede hour by hour as You bring them to my mind, and to point them to You continually. Our world is a battlefield Lord and I know it well. Give me everything I require to bring spiritual protection, practical provision, and emotional encouragement to my grandchildren. Teach me how to speak life into their tender hearts…and never stop. Amen!

Grand Ideas

1. Begin a journal just for your grandchildren. Write your prayer requests on its empty pages then watch and see how God faithfully answers.
2. Talk to other grandparents about ways they have found are successful in offering spiritual instruction to their grandchildren.
3. Pray big for your grandchildren. Ask God to bring each one to a saving faith in Jesus Christ at an early age.

Michele Howe is the author of twenty-seven books for women, children and families. She has published over 3000 articles, reviews, and curricula and has been interviewed on Focus on the Family several times. Her newest releases include Deliver Us: Finding Hope in the Psalms for Moments of Desperation; Big Feelings, Bigger God – Discovering God’s Care in Good Times and Bad; and Finding Freedom and Joy in Self-Forgetfulness. Feel free to explore her website here.

Image created using DeepAi