What kind of impact did your grandparents leave you?

One hundred and thirty-six years ago, today, January 23, 1884, my grandmother was born. She joined my grandfather in heaven in 1966. I have many treasured memories of my godly grandparents, a prayer warrior for her family. Thinking of my grandmother today I want to share with you how her godly example influenced my life.

My Grandmother’s Reflection

When I was a young woman, I had many opportunities to visit my lonely, widowed grandmother while I attended college in her town. As she grieved my grandfather’s death, she reflected her trust in God to care for her and showed how God sustained her each day by claiming the promise Jesus gave His disciples after His resurrection. “And be sure of this, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20). 

My grandmother’s reflection of her faith that God would always be there for her made a great impact on my life. Her testimony influenced me to incorporate that verse into the daily experiences of my life. Since those early adult years, whenever life has been difficult, disappointing, or downright discouraging, I have claimed that same scripture verse. My prayer is that I will have opportunities to reflect my life experiences of trusting God to my children and grandchildren. 

Reflecting by Example

Paul wrote to Titus, “You yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.” (Titus 2:7 NLT). Titus was to set an example by doing good works of every kind, showing integrity, sincerity, and honesty. Integrity is adhering to a code of values being trustworthy and genuine. Sincerity is, to be honest, genuine, and authentic. Just as Paul instructed Titus to model a life of integrity, sincerity, and genuineness, we should be teaching our grandchildren with our life, do good deeds of every kind because we love God, desiring to demonstrate His love to others, but not to bring praise to ourselves.    

Grandparent’s Role

The role of godly grandparents is to communicate their faith in Jesus Christ, praying specifically and diligently for their grandchildren. We are also to tell our future generations how God has walked with us and demonstrated His mighty works in our lives. Some of our greatest blessings will come when we ask God to use us to touch their lives and we get to see the results. If you are overwhelmed with how to be a good influence on your grandchildren, God is waiting for you to ask for wisdom. Look for opportunities to guide your conversations to talk about what God has done for you.

In Proverbs 27:19 NLT we read, “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”  We may ask ourselves, “What does that look like.”  When we are committed to read and meditate on God’s Word, we will reflect a life transformed into His image. We glorify God if we reveal or manifest his character by the way we live, demonstrating God’s love to those around us.   

Taken from the book, Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for your Grandchildren, Chapter: Grandparents Reflect Christ by their Example. The book is available on this website for a discounted price of $15.00 including shipping. The book will give you encouragment and suggestions to intentionally pray for your dear grandchildren.

Written by Lillian Penner, Co-Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network, pennerlp@gmail.com