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Seize the Season

By grandparenting 12 years ago3 Comments

Guest blog by Lydia Harris
Author of Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting: For Grandparents at Any Stage of the Journey, AMG Publishers, www.PreparingMyHeart.net.

“I had so much fun,” my grandson said as he wearily climbed the stairs in our split-level home.
We had invited three-year-old Peter to our church harvest carnival, and he had spent the evening jumping in inflatable bounce houses and playing games where he earned candy prizes. Peter fell asleep on the way home, but he awoke long enough to drag himself up the stairs and flop into bed.

The next morning he said, “Let’s go back! “I hated to tell him, but . . . “The carnival is over,” I said. “Halloween is only one day?” he asked in a sad voice. Looking into his disappointed eyes, I wished it were longer too.

Now Peter is in middle school, and the season for sleepovers and bouncy inflatables is over. I love the young man he’s becoming, but I miss the little boy. I’m so glad we shared childhood fun while we could.

Peter is our oldest grandchild, and I still have other little ones to build forts with and play dinosaurs. But too soon, I’ll have to grow up and pack away childhood games. Like my grandson, Peter, I’ll think, “Was it only for a day?” My children grew up fast, but my grandchildren are growing up even faster! I need to seize the season today.

My grandkids’ fleeting childhood reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV). “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” Physically and spiritually, God designed us to mature.

I don’t ever want to grow up so much that I can’t have fun with my grandkids and future great-grandkids. But I do want to grow up spiritually and put away immature ways. In the scheme of eternity, when God looks at my life, I hope he sees my childish spiritual life as short-as only a day. I want to keep growing.

What about you? How are you seizing the moments and seasons with your grandkids? And spiritually, how can you put aside childish ways and talk, think, and reason more and more like a mature grandparent?

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Lillian is the National Prayer Coordinator for Christian Grandparenting Network for many years. She is a speaker, blogger and authored Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren. She and her husband have 3 sons, 9 grandchildren and 2 greats.

3 Comments

  • Eileen Maelzer says:

    Right on–while we don’t get a “Faithful” award usually, it is God’s measure for spiritual growth rather than trying to be “Popular” for which there usually are awards. You are gifted and your gifts are from God and None of us deserve the gifts. So, in faithfulness and humility, use your opportunities to God’s glory and know that He loves you and wants nothing but good and growth and maturity for you, Grandparents.

  • Margaret Howard says:

    I fell so good when I read the things you write about being a grandparent. I don’t feel good unless I call my grandsons and talk to them each day. I have to encourge them as far as the school work and I always let them know that their NaNa loves them. My boys are growing up so fast and I’m trying my best to keep them in church. Thanks for our words of wisdom. God bless you and Your family Your sister in Jesus Christ Margarette

  • Lydia Harris says:

    Thanks, Eileen and Margaret, for investing in your grandchildren’s lives. You are making an eternal impact.

    Happy grandparenting!

    Grandma Tea

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