The Three D’s of Successful Grandparenting: PART 2

DESTINATION

I used to love singing the refrain of this old hymn:

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!

This song reflects a specific worldview, and as Chuck Colson used to relentlessly proclaim, “worldview matters!” Our worldview—how we see the world, what we believe and value in life that makes life worthwhile—ultimately determines the destination for which we strive.

If your worldview is summed up by the philosophy of ‘eat, drink and be merry,’ because you see nothing else to life, then it makes no difference what destination you choose. Anything is okay because it doesn’t matter. Heaven isn’t real, and the song means nothing.

For us who believe, if Christ is not risen from the dead, then as the apostle Paul declares, our faith is useless. There is no ultimate, higher reality to bother about, so go for whatever gusto pushes your button.

The truth is we place our hope in Christ because He is indeed risen! That means our longings and desires are for the destination about which we sing—the prize before us, the Eternal City promised to those whose life is hidden in Christ where there will be no more tears or sorrow, no more pain. It is destination where perfect peace and indescribable joy with our Savior, who gave Himself for us, will be forever and we’ll sing and shout the victory!

Which brings us to …

DESTINATION, the first ‘D’ of successful grandparenting. Destination is all about our definition of success as a grandparent.

How do you define success as a grandparent? Do you define it by how good a time you have with them and how much they like you? Or is it something more?

I don’t believe successful grandparenting is determined by the good times I have with my grandchildren. I’m all for good times, and believe me, we have lots of good times together. But good times and being a ‘good’ grandparent does not define success as a grandparent.

Here is my definition of successful grandparenting: Knowing I have done everything in my power as a faithful servant of Christ to help my grandchildren know the truth and walk in it. I can think of no greater joy or reward than knowing my grandchildren know Christ as their Savior and Lord, and are following Him wholeheartedly. I want them to know that Easter is more than a religious holiday with Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies. It is the whole point of life as it was intended to be. It is the substance of our faith.

How do you define successful grandparenting? Your definition will determine the destination you pursue, not only for your life, but for your children and grandchildren. Destination is critical to what we do with the second ‘D’… which we’ll talk about next week.

In the meantime, make sure your worldview is rooted in the Resurrection and the promise of a new heaven and a new earth as your final destination. I encourage you to let the song of the Lamb resound in your life. Don’t let the song be drowned out by the noises, distractions and pointless worldviews without Christ. May your grandchildren, and others, hear the music of your life and be drawn to the true Giver and Object of that song. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

GrandPause: Here’s something worth singing about…“Satan has no countermove to stop what God has already done.” –Dr. Tony Evans