by Dr. Ken Canfield
I believe we grandparents often have an angelic influence on our grandkids.
There’s a lot that can go into that, as I described in my book, The Heart of Grandparenting. After all, one thing we know about angels is that they can play different roles—like a comforter, a protector, and a warrior. The role I’m focusing on this week is appropriate for Holy Week and Easter this weekend:
Like angels, we can be ambassadors or messengers from God for our grandkids.
What does that mean? Well, much of what angels do is point people to God or relay messages from Him. If that’s part of our assignment, it doesn’t mean we have to be theologians or come up with the perfect devotional thought for every moment. Usually, it simply means telling our grandkids about our faith, what matters to us, and what it means to serve Christ.
And if there’s a message that we believe God wants to pass along to our grandkids, what would that be? Apart from any supernatural or divine revelations we might have, we can be confident that God wants them to know that He loves them and He has plans for their lives, to give them a hope and a future.
Maybe we can also tell our grandkids about our own hope for their faith, talk about something we read this morning in the Scriptures, or what we believe God has been teaching us in recent years or recent days.
How should we talk about these things?
Just a few suggestions: Always be genuine and try to be brief. Short comments and quick lessons shared during the flow of everyday life are often best. The last thing you want is for a grandchild to start rolling his eyes when you start talking because he knows he’s about to get a lecture or a sermon.
You do have a lot of life experience and wisdom to impart to your grandkids regarding faith and spiritual matters. Often it’s best to give them just a bite at a time, and leave them wanting to hear more.
Happy Easter! Enjoy the time you spend with your grandkids, even if it’s by phone or Facetime.
What have you learned when it comes to sharing about faith with your grands? Please join the discussion on our Facebook page here.
