Cavin’s Blog …
Courageous Grandparenting
Unshakable Faith in a Broken World

How to Live with the Uncertainty of a Prodigal

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I don’t do well with uncertainty. I like clear expectations, definitive answers to my questions, and specific guidance for next steps – whether from my family, friends, employer, or even from God…maybe ESPECIALLY from God.

Over the past two decades, I have had to learn to live with uncertainty and shattered dreams in more than one arena. The most challenging was praying for adult loved ones who have either yet to come to faith in Jesus Christ or who have walked away from following Him. And yet I have come to a place in life where – most of the time – I have a sense of peace and not anxiousness when I think about my 90-year old father who clings tenaciously to the agnostic label or adult children/grandchildren who are trusting in their own wisdom and abilities as they make life choices.

To some this “inner peace” may be misconstrued as surrender, hopelessness, weariness, or lethargy. But others have asked how I found this peaceful contentment amid uncertainty and apparent unanswered prayers. Here are a few pointers that have helped me:

  1. Expand your long-distance vision. I no longer wake up each day fully expecting that “today” will bring all the answers (or miracles) I seek. I still believe that God is at work, often behind the scenes where my vision is limited. I go about my day with a focus on my own responsibilities for this 24 hours, leaving tomorrow, next week, and next month in God’s hands and off my worry list. I try not to fret over what I see in their lives today and to allow them and God to “work out” their faith in their own personalized timelines, knowing He loves them more than I do. I remind myself that spiritual birth and growth take longer for some and they are in Good Hands!
  2. Expand your grateful heart. I try to look for small things in each one for which I can be thankful. I thank God and, when possible, also mention it to them in the form of encouragement or affirmation (i.e., “blessings”). This may be verbal (in person, by phone or computer), a written note, or by brief text. If I pay more attention to what’s missing than what is present in their lives, they feel my disappointment or sadness regardless of my attempts not to communicate that. Striving to be watchful and attentive to small kindnesses shown, efforts to improve relationships, or positive decisions requires conscious effort and energy from me – energy better expended than in fretting or worry. A grateful heart makes waiting for answers more endurable.
  3. Expand your own faith walk. The supernatural “peace that is beyond human understanding” is a gift from God. It comes with a closer personally intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. The more time I spend with Him and the better I get to know Him, the greater my trust in His beneficence and good plans (for me as well as for the ones I love so much). This makes it easier to confidently place my burdens, worries, and fears in God’s care. Of course, I sometimes take them back onto my own shoulders but, finding them too heavy, I will release them to His responsibility once more. The ultimate outcome of the lives of loved ones is far too great a burden for any of us to carry. It will crush us if we insist on carrying it ourselves. One of the best means of transferring this heavy weight is through prayer—praying alone, praying with my spouse, and praying with others who share similar concerns. Prayer is healing for those who pray as well as those for whom we intercede.

I still do not enjoy uncertainty in any areas of my life. But I am growing in daily peaceful contentment with imperfect circumstances and patience with today’s unanswered prayers as I wait with expanded thankfulness for God’s timing in the lives of those I love.

Bev and her husband, Olin, are Ministry Partners of CGN. They lead our Courageous Grandparenting Seminars as requested. Bev serves as Director of Care Ministries at Lake Free Church in Lindstrom, MN. She and Olin have nine children and ten grandchildren.

Restoring Civility and Respect

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Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths… (Eph. 4:29)

Have you ever noticed how political and social issues have a way of bringing out the worst in people. Does the degree of verbal slander between opposing positions, particularly in matters of religion and politics, seem over the top to you? It’s easy to get caught up in the verbal name-calling. Perhaps it’s time to hit pause and ask how our conversations exalt Christ?

I do believe our nation is at a crossroads in terms of the character, values, and core beliefs that define us as a nation. As rhetoric and opinions amplify through vicious incivility, we must guard ourselves from crass and derisive ridicule of those with whom we disagree. There is nothing to gain by losing our cool, including making a positive impact on our grandchildren.

There is, unquestionably, much going on in the world today to raise the ire of any one of us. Many of those events hardly even warrant any kind of response. What is noteworthy is how uncivil our nation is in its conversations about matters of disagreement. As a grandparent, I do not want my grandchildren hearing me speak disparagingly about other people simply because we do not agree. I do not want them to learn from me that it is okay to demean others because I think they are wrong.

I doubt any of us want our grandchildren to become self-righteous, arrogant, and disrespectful, even if we are treated disrespectfully and hated by the world. We want them to walk in the truth as kind, gracious men and women, who treat everyone as men and women made in the image of God just as we are.

If you want your grandchildren to speak wholesomely for the benefit of those who are listening, here are a few biblical principles that we should all take to heart if we want our grandkids to imitate us in the process of expressing opinions with civility and respect:

  1. Cultivate a humble heart: Remember God opposes (that’s scary) the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Pride is nurtured by a grand illusion of self-importance and self-promotion; humility actually sees others as better than ourselves. That’s radical!
  2. Practice patience: Proverbs says a hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. Patience rests confidently in the providential work of God in others…and me, in God’s time. We’re all messy, so let’s bear with one another.
  3. Learn to forgive: Forgiveness happens when I realize how much I have been forgiven and how much there is for which I still need to repent (See Eph. 4:32). Forgiveness does not justify sin or human depravity. It only acknowledges that there, but by the grace of God, go I.
  4. Speak words of blessing: Words of criticism and cursing sometimes come easier than words of blessing. To bless is to intentionally speak well of another. If I can’t do that, then maybe I should keep my mouth shut. Maybe I should model to my grandchildren the practice of praying for our leaders and those we disagree with instead of ridiculing them.

I grant you, there is plenty to be concerned about in our nation right now. I’m not suggesting we neglect helping our grandchildren understand the issues at stake. It is important to talk about what is going on in our world and why. But losing our cool through unwholesome speech does not reflect well on the truth or on our heart, does it? And it won’t help our grandchildren’s heart either.

GRANDPAUSE: None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.  –Charles Spurgeon

Living in the Sandwich Club with a Smile… or a Good Laugh

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Thank you so much for the responses to a recent post I wrote about Grandparents and the Sandwich Club. Bev P., from Minnesota, shared with me two additional ‘gold nuggets’ that were so good, I have to share them with all my readers. Thank you, Bev, for these practical ways to help us all wade through the rising waters of Sandwich Club realities.

Since my earlier nuggets all formed around the letter ‘R’, I was not able to come up with any good “R” alliterations, so pardon me if I offer them as sub-points under Remember:

  1. Remember to focus on one day at a time. Bev suggests the we work at “keeping our focus only on today’s assignment for us from Him. Do just one thing at a time and leave the rest in His sovereign hands until another day in the future when He may make that the ‘assignment for today’. This requires some mental discipline and much practice! But one-day-at-a-time-living is a vital antidote for exhaustion.” Amen to that, Bev. This was such a great piece of advice.
  2. Remember to laugh. This was my favorite nugget. Be sure to allow for frequent times of fun and laughter! There is something therapeutic about laughter. Even Proverbs 17:22 reminds us that “a cheerful heart is good medicine,” and in situations like Sandwich Clubbers often face, this is good medicine we ought to take often.

Thank you, Bev, for sharing these two extra gold nuggets. It’s easy to forget where our focus needs to be, and how important something as simple as a good laugh is for any hard or exhausting situation. Studies abound describing the positive effects of laughter upon our well-being: reduces stress and increases resilience, combats depression, helps relieve pain. and even boosts our immunity. These are reason enough to laugh more often, but there’s one other thing about laughter I especially love– it’s contagious!

Think about it. How many times have you found yourself in a room with other people, maybe feeling a little down, and someone starts laughing or telling a really funny story. It doesn’t take long to find yourself caught up in laughter as well. I’ve seen hilarious things on Facebook or come across different people of all ages laughing about some crazy thing, and without warning, I’m laughing till the tears stream down my face and my side hurts. You know what I mean –you can’t help yourself. And doesn’t it feel good—like something has been lifted off your shoulders?

So, thanks, Bev, for the encouraging reminder not to take life so seriously all the time. When life is hard and when it taxes our energy, why not find something to laugh about – a good hearty laugh. It’s not likely to change the difficulty we’re in, but it is sure a nice respite.

So, I’d like to suggest a few ways to make laughter good medicine:

  • Read a funny book, or watch some old clean comedy shows like Abbot and Costello, I Love Lucy, or the Carol Burnett Show. They’re hilarious… for all ages. There are also some very funny comedians who are Christians: Ken Davis, Tim Hawkins, Mark Lowry or Jeanne Robertson, for example. (Just make sure your Depends are on. Okay, that’s not funny 😂).
  • Spend time with people who know how to have fun, enjoy life and laugh at themselves.
  • Learn to laugh at yourself and your circumstances. Sometimes it’s easier to get angry with ourselves for something dumb we did, instead of laughing about it. At least, it is for me. Caveat: make sure we’re not laughing at the expense of another person. It’s okay to laugh with, but never AT another person. That’s never funny.

This is good medicine for all of us whether we are Sandwich Club members or not. So, in case you’re having a really bad day today, or you just want to laugh for no other reason, check out this video by Jeanne Robertson.

May you find cheer for your heart, no matter how dark it may seem.

What Does the Solar Eclipse Reveal to You?

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There is quite a frenzy going on right now with the arrival of a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse across the United States. It’s been ninety-nine years since the last one, so this is really a big deal.

It’s been fun watch all the news stories and see the excitement this event is generating. As I’m watching all of this, you may have noticed what I have notice. While a lot is said about the “science” behind this phenomenon, nothing is said about the God behind the science. There is lots of talk about how science can precisely measure and determine exactly when this event occurs, and what they can learn from it. And that’s all good. What is obviously missing is any recognition of the Designer behind the design.

If you shared this amazing event with your grandchildren, I hope you used it as an opportunity to discuss with them how God’s glory and majesty is displayed in it. What an amazing opportunity to talk with our grandchildren about God’s greatness and power. What a great opportunity to discuss all the ways God displays His glory, beauty and power in the world around and the heavens.

What is behind all these wondrous displays of wonder? Talk about it and use it as an opportunity to give praise and honor to Him who shows us His glory in things like an eclipse. These kinds of event are like special reminders, much like the rainbow, that God is God alone, and He created all that is. His beauty, power and creativity are on display for all to see. You won’t hear much from the media or scientific community about that side of it, so let’s be sure to tell our grandchildren the truth. Remind them that…

The heavens declare the glory of God;
The skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Psalm 19:1

The eclipse is also a great teachable moment for talking about the last days when the sun will be darkened by more than an eclipse. In those days, just prior to our Lord’s coming again to judge the living and the dead, God will display His power and glory unlike anything we have ever known. For the child of God, this will not be a time to fear, but a time to rejoice for the Lord has come to make all things new, and to wipe away every tear.

The eclipse is an amazing event. What’s even more amazing is the Creator’s hand behind it. Let’s soak in His awesome wonder, and give Him the glory and honor that is due Him.

Grandparents and the Sandwich Club

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“…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

According to professionals in the field, millions of adults between 40 and 59 years of age in America are part of the “Sandwich Generation”. These are mostly working adults with aging parents and children still in the home. Another growing segment of the Sandwich Generation I call the Sandwich Club (also referred to as Club Sandwich). I define Sandwich Club members as those mostly in their 50’s and 60’s juggling the care of elderly parents and some level of support to adult children and grandchildren.

My siblings and I, along with our spouses (all grandparents) are part of the Sandwich Club – those of us coping with parents with diminishing capacities and adult children producing a growing quiver of grandchildren. The demands can range from something relatively easy to extremely difficult and heartbreaking. Many invest significant time and energy helping aging parents with dementia and/or significant physical limitations. At the same time, they may be dealing with strained or changing relationships with adult children and/or grandchildren.

Because Sandwich Club members are a unique group of mostly grandparents, they are frequently overwhelmed by emotional and physical stress. Think about it… did you ever imagined this time of life would be anything other than some of your best years? Yet, here we are with a new understanding of what that old saying feels like which says, ‘When it rains, it often pours!’ For my family, much of the time it feels like a mostly stormy downpour.

I admit I was not mentally prepared for the physical and emotional associated with my membership in the Sandwich Club. On the one hand, there are major decisions and actions we are forced to make about how to provide the most beneficial care for parents who seem almost like strangers much of the time, and often angry that their independence is being taken away. Parenting toddlers, and even teenagers, seems – if my memory is still clear — easier than this unexpected flip-flop of family roles.

On the other hand, Sandwich Club grandparents often have adult children struggling with their marriages, jobs or faith who either turn to them for help, or completely reject any offer of help from their parents. And, of course, there are the grandchildren. If there’s trouble at home, they may also be wrestling with questions of faith, identity or purpose. As is often the case, they may look to grandpa or grandma for help. I think that is a good thing, because it usually means grandma and grandpa are a safe to talk about the hard things.

In my own ‘sandwich’ reality, I struggle regularly with fatigue and depression to some degree, I think – something new to me. As part of an ever-growing group of sandwich generation grandparents, ought this not to be a prime area for the Church to step to the plate and offer support, encouragement and tools for coping? How sad that few churches are doing it, perhaps because they are not aware of the need. Maybe we can change that.

In my own journey mining for understanding, God has helped me discover a few gold nuggets that have been a big help. Here are four nuggets I hope will help you as well…

  1. REACH OUT: I need wise counselors to help me keep things in focus. I need to be reminded that I not the only one experiencing hardship. I urge you to reach out to a mature brother/sister in Christ who will understand what you’re experiencing. I discovered there are lots of people in similar circumstances, or have already traveled that road ready to help. (I am blessed to have amazing siblings who all help share the load. If you do not have that support network, find someone who can fill that role.)
  2. REST: I need to take care of myself and my spouse. I learned to value of time away from the demands of family for me and my spouse. This can be something as simple as taking a drive together, having a date night at the movies, or getting away for a few days at a favorite vacation spot. If I don’t do this, I will not be an effective caregiver.
  3. REFLECT: This is not the time for me to neglect the Word and prayer, even when I don’t feel like doing it. I know it’s easy to say, and not always easy to faithfully practice. But, I’ve learned that no matter how painful and exhausting a situation may be, I dare not let the Enemy distract me from my first love – the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the time to reflect on His promises like, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… He is my refuge and my fortress…” (Psalm 91:1-2). “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
  4. REMEMBER: Remember, He is God, not me (in case you forgot). I don’t have all the answers, but He does. I need to remember that He will never leave me or forsake me. I must remember His grace is sufficient… not my strength or knowledge. The command to remember runs throughout Scripture because the Enemy knows that, other than affluence, there are no more fertile soils for forgetting than hardship and weariness. Remember Jesus’ gracious words, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). He offers rest (shalom) for my soul, but only if I come to Him.

These four nuggets are a magic potion to make all the problems go away, but they are balm to keep us from losing heart and help us discover the richness and depth of God’s grace and peace. May His grace and peace fill you and give you rest.

I’d love to hear how God has helped you handle the emotional and physical exhaustion that often comes with a Sandwich Club membership.

Could We Be Whistling Past Our Grandchildren’s Graveyard?

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“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” I John 1:8

I remember not long after our first child was born, a new mother in our young adult Sunday School class declared in the middle of a discussion about original sin, “I believe children are born good. Children learn about sin from other adults.”  Have you ever heard a parent say something like this about their children? This mother was adamant about her feelings. She would not accept the idea of original sin. By her way of thinking, children were too innocent to have a sinful nature. We adults are responsible for children’s sinfulness.

Chuck Colson once described this kind of thinking as “whistling past our children’s graveyard”.

William Golding didn’t believe in original sin either, at least until World War II changed his thinking. In 1954 he published his first novel, Lord of The Flies, a powerful and disturbing parable about the sin nature in every man, including children. The story powerfully portrays what happens when kids stranded on an island lack any moral guidance by adults.

Reasonable men and women don’t need Golding’s Lord Of The Flies to convince them of what happens when adult moral guidance is missing in any family and society. Kids raised in a moral vacuum where they are expected to figure things out for themselves, will likely find life meaningless and hopeless. Without intentional conversations and training about moral implications and the consequences of our choices, we relinquish the authority for such “training” to the Enemy, who will gladly assume the responsibility.

Parents and grandparents who take a hands-off approach to training children how to walk in the truth, open the door wide for those we don’t want training them to fill the void. Moral guidance is the responsibility and command God has assigned to godly parents and grandparents. It is the hallmark of a Gospel-shaped family.

Grandparents, even if your grandkids are blessed with excellent moral instruction at home, your responsibility to also teach and model righteousness is not removed (See Deut. 4 and 6). And if moral guidance is missing at home, then your responsibility becomes even more critical and necessary. Don’t fall for the lie that they will figure it out on their own, even though, by God’s grace, some will figure it out. Such foolishness is akin to whistling past your grandchildren’s graveyard.

What are you doing to provide a godly moral compass for your grandchildren? May suggest three things you can do to make sure your grandchildren are hearing from you how to walk in the truth?

  1. Pray for them regularly. Obviously, entering our own personal prayer closet to seek God’s wisdom and grace for the task is a good starting place. However, I also believe there is great value in getting together with other grandparents to pray, study God’s Word, and share ideas for teaching the truth to our grandkids. Grandparent’s Day of Prayer on the second Sunday of each September is a great way to engage with other grandprents.
  2. Get a copy of A Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle. This excellent resources will help you understand the culture of our time, how to identify the lies that bombard us every day, and how to engage with your grandchildren in conversations about these things. Click here to order your copy.
  3. If the parents of your grandchildren are receptive and on the same page in their worldview, sit down together and ask them how you can come alongside and help them teach your grandchildren well. There are two chapters in my book, Courageous Grandparenting, that will help you do that.

Remember, there’s just too much at stake eternally if we don’t take this seriously. Wouldn’t you agree?

You Gonna Trust Me… or What?

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By Gary Ericson

When my wife and I were still very young and newly married, God brought an older couple into our lives who became our spiritual grandparents. As should be the case with grandparents, we learned a lot from those two. In fact, a lot of who we are now springs from what the Lord loaded into us from these adopted grandparents.

One of those tidbits centered on the disappointments, challenges and suffering that come with hardship. I remember a particularly difficult challenge they—our adopted grandparents—were facing. I asked “Grandpa” how they were doing. His reply made me ponder how I handle the tribulations Jesus promised would be part of living in this fallen world.

He said, “It always comes down to the same question: ‘You gonna trust Me, or what??'” We talked about how the Lord is faithful, including during his specific hardship.

The question was burned into my mind: “You gonna trust Me, or what?” It cut through all the fluff I normally go through, exhausting my wise alternatives to finally realize He is the answer to my tribulation!

Life moved on… years clicked by. Kids came along. My career got launched and underway. Church became a major part of our life. Life was good. I guess we were a pretty typical family facing the normal challenges of disciplining the children the right way, striving to be successful, having an impact for the Lord on people as we lived each day. Life had become somewhat predictable, and we enjoyed the life the Lord had for us.

Then… the storm rolled in. It was our perfect storm. It didn’t come-and-go as earlier challenges had. It hung on for years. One of the kids developed a life-long chronic medical condition. My job evaporated out of the blue and, on top of that, our church was going through significant turmoil that resulted in us dropping out. We moved to a safe church to hide for a while. Now, all the lessons we had learned and the answers that came with them didn’t seem to fit our perfect storm. This was too big and too hard!

It took over four years to work through the storm. Our son was in and out of medical institutions. I scrambled to find a new job and restart my career. I had to figure out how we were to function as church-goers, or if even we were going to be church-goers. Oh yeah… we were broke, too. Paying for all the medical work our son needed drained our resources. Nearly every meaningful part of our life was in the flusher… all at the same time. I wanted to know, where was God in all this???

It came to a head for me one night. I was really perturbed with God. How could He let this happen? We were a faithful couple. We did it all, and we did it right. He owed us more than this, I reasoned. I sat in my rocker in the dark through the night looking out the window hashing this over with the Lord. About sun up, it dawned on me that I had a choice to make. If God is who He says He is, and I am who He says I am, I had to decide if He was my tormentor or my refuge. He could change all our tough circumstances with a whisper, but He didn’t. Why not!?

As sunlight popped over the hill, He quietly responded, “Am I not adequate for every single bit of what you are facing?” (Isn’t that what Ephesians 3:20 is about: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…).  Even that irritated me. Unfair response. I’m hurting and He doesn’t swoop in and change all my circumstance to “make it all better” like a Father should. Of course, He was adequate, but I wasn’t seeing anything change. OK, then, Lord, be adequate for me!

That earlier question – the only real question, actually – suddenly became crystal clear: “You gonna trust Me, or what?”

All the heartache from the years of hardship brought me to this point and this question. We had tried everything. Nothing worked. Alternatives to really trusting Him with all my circumstances had come to nothing. And here He was, ready to join me in my inadequacy with all His adequacy in my perfect storm. In that moment I knew… He is my refuge. That was the beginning. Be my refuge, be adequate for my perfect storm.

Nothing changed, but everything changed… and lots of work lay ahead.

  • Still had to work the medical treatment issues
  • Still had to pay the bills
  • Still had to work at the job and get the career back on track
  • Still had a ministry He had laid out for us

But it had now changed. He was at work in us, though us, before us, around us. This was now totally different from our plan. Surrender to Him brought victory. It did not necessarily fix the circumstances and restore my level of desired comfort. In fact, as I have come to enjoy that surrender, circumstances aren’t so important any more. He is.

We had changed. He changed us. I learned to “trust Him, no matter what“. I got to know Jesus.

He is not my tormentor. He is my refuge!

Challenges come and go… but He doesn’t.

Ways to Cultivate Positive Relationships with Your Grandchildren

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Who doesn’t want to have the best possible relationship with their grandchildren? Most grandparents desperately want their grandchildren to like them and to want to spend time with them. Intentional grandparents, however, want even more… they want their grandkids to feel that being around grandma and grandpa is a safe place to ask hard questions without judgment, and they want to have a spiritual impact in their lives.

Here are seven gold nuggets (practical activities) you can do with your grandchildren, regardless of age, that will help you cultivate a relationship of trust and authenticity. The earlier you start putting these into practice with your grandchildren, the greater the impact, If your grandkids are older, it is never too late to start.

These activities, taken by themselves, are useful for any relationship, but for grandparents who want to be intentional Gospel focused grandparents, these will lay the groundwork for making a profound influence in their lives for Christ and the Gospel.

1. EAT TOGETHER: One of the most tragic consequences of the cultural lies demanding our attention and attraction all the time is the disintegration of family meals together. Grandparents can recapture the power of the family table with their grandchildren when they are with them. The dinner table is a powerful place to do life together and be open with one another, and not just at the holidays. Hold fast to this opportunity.

2. ENGAGE REGULARLY: I cannot think of a better way to engage with your grandchildren than through conversations with them about life. I’m not talking about heavy theological discussions, but learning to ask good questions that open doors of opportunity to talk about things below the surface. Here are few questions to start the conversation:

  1. What do you think about… ?
  2. Why do you think that?
  3. What do you think God thinks? Why?
  4. What if what you think is wrong? Would you want to know?
  5. What is your favorite…. (color, pet, music, place, etc.? Why?

3. PLAN A FUN EVENT TOGETHER: Nothing builds strong relationships better than spending time together and doing something fun and meaningful. This is one of the reasons we started GrandCamps—a fun faith adventure where you spend significant, quality time bonding together and cultivating a legacy of faith. Check out our web site for more information. Here are a couple of other ideas:

  • Take a road trip with your grandchildren
  • Sign up for a mission project with your grandchildren

4. TURN IT OFF! – CHALLENGE TO A MEDIA FAST: When your grandchildren come to visit or you are watching them for extended periods of time, create periods of time when you establish a tech fast. Today’s technology that fills the lives of our children with screen time is rapidly destroying relationships of all kinds. Tell your grandkids you’re going to do a experiment with them by turning it all off. But replace the screen time with some fun and interactive face. Here’s a few suggestions:

  • Game night
  • Craft time
  • Cooking or baking time
  • Bike ride

5. LAUGH TOGETHER! Create an atmosphere filled with laughter. Tell funny stories, roll around with younger ones on the floor (if you’re able), see who can make the funniest face, listen to some good Christian comedians.

6. PRAY TOGETHER: Teach your grandchildren to pray. Pray for them, but also pray with them. Meal times are great, but there are many other opportunities to stop and pray with your grandchildren reminding them of God’s presence and goodness.

7. SPEAK BLESSING: I don’t believe there is a more powerful tool for building strong relationships with your children and grandchildren than speaking blessing into their lives. If you would like some help to do a spoken blessing, go to our web site and download your free Create a Legacy of Blessing packet. A good hug and telling them how precious they are to you, and to God, is a powerful way to speak bless into their life.

GRANDPAUSE: You will invest your life in something, or you will throw it away on nothing. –Haddon Robinson

A Grandfather’s Heritage – Part 3

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You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.
Luke 3:22 (NIV)

The Big Story of reality begins in Genesis, chapter 1. Not only are we told that humans alone, among all of God’s creation in the universe, have been made in His image, but what’s more, we are precious to Him. To demonstrate the significance of that unchangeable truth, the first thing God did after His final act of creating Adam and Eve, male and female, was to bless them. Here’s what is recorded in Genesis 1:27-28…

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’

If this was important enough to God to have Moses record it, would it not be reasonable to conclude that speaking blessing over one another, especially our children and grandchildren, could be a powerful tool for communicating the high value God has given to each of them? He created them in His image, and a blessing affirms that value and unique purpose He has for them.   Read more

A Grandfather’s Heritage – Part 2

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What if every grandfather who claims to follow Christ understood the critical nature of the legacy, or inheritance, they are building for their grandchildren, and determined to proactively live it out? I believe the impact would be so huge it would rock entire nations.

In my previous post, I talked about grandfathers staying involved. You can’t build a legacy that matters if you’re not involved. Your grandkids don’t need an absent grandfather. They need, and want, YOU engaged in their lives!

Not only do your grandkids need an actively involved grandfather, they also need to know your story. This is the second simple way you can proactively build a legacy that matters… Read more