On Being a GRANDPARENT

A ugust 12, 2000. The day a new privilege and responsibility began. My FIRST grandchild was born. The greatest discovery that day was an unrealized newfound love in my heart. A new role also was impressed upon me of the high and holy calling from God to be a part of influencing the future.

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.”

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his day changed my prayer concerns as well. My prayers already involved my desire to develop a deeper walk with Christ for myself as a partner, as a parent and my role as a father, as a pastor, the flock and my ministry. Now my family concerns are greatly expanded and intensified. The prayer for my children and grandchildren’s needs include:

• Salvation, that they will come to know the Lord at an early age
• Sanctification, a pure relationship with God and growth in grace
• Satan’s reality, protection from the evil one
• Strength of character, health in mind, body and spirit
• Separation from worldly wisdom to a godly discernment of good and evil
• Singularity of life purpose and calling
• Spouses that are good life partners and wisely choosing godly companions
• Serving God and His church with an active love for God

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oday, we are on the verge of having our twelfth (an even dozen grandchildren), the last of which is known only to me as the “Little One” in my prayers. My love has already begun to well up in my heart for this one as well. I am thankful to my grandparents for turning the direction of our family around for God and have seen how God blesses those who follow Him. Psalm 103:17,18 reminds us “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.”

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t is my firm belief that we can make a difference as grandparents, regardless of the ungodliness of our culture. An encouraging reminder is given by David Jeremiah in “Family Factor” as he makes reference to grandparents’ influence in history.

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he Bolshevik Revolution took place in Russia in 1917, resulting in what became the Communist Soviet Union. Until that rule imploded in the late 1980’s, the faith of Russian Christians was severely tested by the atheistic Communist government. It is said that during the 70 years of Soviet rule, it was the grandmothers of Russia, the babushkas, who kept the faith alive. They were the ones who kept faith and hope alive in the darkest days of repression. Many of them obviously died before the Soviet empire collapsed, but their faith did not die with them. They taught their children and grandchildren so that, when conditions allowed, a vibrant church emerged from the ruins of Soviet atheism.