by Ken Canfield, Ph.D.
Something happens at Easter that doesn’t happen many other times during the year. The biggest questions of human life — What happens when we die? Is there hope beyond what we can see? What do I actually believe? — float to the surface of everyday conversation. We hear them at the dinner table, in the car on the way to church, in the quiet moments between the egg hunt and dessert.
We grandparents may be better positioned to step into those conversations than anyone else in our grandchildren’s lives. We’ve lived longer. We’ve faced more loss. We’ve thought more carefully — and sometimes more painfully — about what endures and what doesn’t. That kind of seasoned perspective is exactly what a grandchild needs, even if they don’t know how to ask for it. And here’s the good news:
You don’t have to be a theologian.
You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to talk. In fact, sharing your faith is more than a responsibility — it’s a privilege and a gift.
There’s one important consideration before we dive in, though: the parents. In many families, a grandparent who gently shares their faith is welcomed — or at least tolerated with a smile. But not always. Some parents may have different beliefs, or no faith at all, and may not want grandparents introducing spiritual topics with their children. In those situations, it’s important to respect their wishes and keep the lines of relationship open. A grandparent who pushes past those boundaries may win a conversation but then lose access to their grandchild.
When parents aren’t on board, our influence shifts from words to example — the quiet faithfulness of how we live, the hope they see in us when life gets hard, the grace we extend even when it isn’t returned. That kind of witness is rarely forbidden, and it may leave the deepest mark of all.
When the parents are supportive, though, the door is wide open. One woman named Alice shared this about her grandparents:
My grandma and grandpa taught me about Jesus. They lived their life loving God and sharing His message. They were a great example for me and it has helped me in my faith. I treasure the memories of them as they are in heaven now — and I can’t wait to one day see them again.
Her grandparents probably didn’t think they were doing anything extraordinary. They were just living faithfully in front of someone who was watching. Easter is an invitation for us to do the same.
Here are a few simple, practical ways to step into that invitation this weekend:
Ask an open-ended question.
… and let their age and maturity guide how deep you go. With a young child, “Why do you think Jesus came back to life?” is plenty. With a teenager, you might go further: “Do you ever wonder what happens after we die?” or “What do you actually believe about all this?” Don’t make it a test. Just ask — and then listen. Thoughtful questions are doorways, not interrogations, and a grandchild who feels genuinely heard is a grandchild who will keep talking.
Share your own story.
Not a sermon — a story. What does Easter mean to you personally? Where were you when faith first meant something real in your life? Grandchildren are often far more open to hearing a grandparent’s personal journey than any theological argument. Authenticity opens doors that lectures close.
Say “I’m praying for you.”
Or better yet, ask “How can I pray for you?” At first your grandchild might shrug it off. But keep asking. Tell them what you’re already praying for them. Over time, that simple question becomes a powerful reminder that you believe in something beyond yourself — and that they matter enough to bring before God. One grandmother described it this way: each night before tucking her granddaughter in, she never forgot to pray together. “This is one memory,” her granddaughter wrote years later, “I will never forget.”
If you can’t be together in person, write something.
A short note or even a text that says, “I’m thinking of you this Easter. I believe in a God who brings hope out of hard things, and I’m praying that for you.” It doesn’t have to be long. It just has to be real. Words like that have a way of staying with a grandchild long after the weekend is over.
Easter comes around once a year. The conversations it makes possible can last a lifetime. You have something to offer your grandchildren that no one else can — the wisdom of years lived, faith tested, and hope that has held. Don’t let the moment pass.
How are you connecting with your grandchildren this Easter? Share your ideas and traditions on our Facebook page — we’d love to hear from you!
