A Message to Churches and Grandparents
By Sherry Schumann
As grandparents, many of us have bought into the cultural lie that we are inconsequential in the lives of our children and grandchildren. This lie tells us to retire to “leisureville.” It tells us that, if we want a relationship with our grandchildren, we need to give them expensive presents and fancy trips. However, nothing is further from the Truth.
Scripture clearly defines the roles of family members. Husbands are the head of the family. Wives are the helpmates. Children bring honor to their parents. But what about those of us who are grandparents, either biological or surrogate? Does the Bible say anything about our role? The answer is a resounding, “YES!”
God calls us to leave a legacy of faith in Christ Jesus to the generations following us. The instructions, which Moses gave to the Israelites three thousand years ago are still relevant today: “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children” (Deuteronomy 4:9, emphasis mine).
Another key passage for understanding a grandparent’s role is found in Psalm 78. Asaph, a gifted musician living during the reign of both David and Solomon, wrote, “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done” (Psalm 78:4).
Sharing our faith with our family isn’t always easy. Some of us are separated from our grandchildren by physical miles, while others are separated by emotional distance created as a result of divorce, broken relationships, misplaced priorities, unwarranted suspicions, time constraints and lack of forgiveness within our families. Some of us have been forbidden to mention Jesus’ name in the presence of our grandchildren.
The good news is that God is raising up an army of grandparents who are shaking off the slumber of “leisureville” and accepting God’s call to influence their grandchildren for Christ. We meet monthly for G@P or Grandparents@Prayer groups where we pray corporately for our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren. We attend conferences, programs, and Sunday school classes designed to help us discover how to share our faith with our families and the generations coming after us. We share this news with other grandparents in our churches and communities.
If you or your church is interested in more information, please contact Wanda DeLorge , Cathy Jacobs, or Sherry Schumann.
The Best Gift Ever!
What better gift can a grandparent give their grandchild than the gift of a lasting memory. Especially memorable is one spending time together sharing their faith in a fun-filled environment with other grandparents and their grandchildren. This Christmas, Wanda DeLorge “Gigi” (Pictured left) gave the gift of registration to GrandCamp 2024 to her grandchildren. Granddaughter Presley is looking forward to her third year of GrandCamp and grandson Paul who has been patiently awaiting his turn will also attend for the first time in June 17-21, 2024 at Epworth by the Sea, St Simons Island, GA. To register, click on the link above
Would you consider giving the gift of GrandCamp to your grandchild? Maybe for a birthday, or Valentines or just because you love them? Learn more about GrandCamps.