Happy Grandparents Day, Grandparents. Whether you are called grandma and grandpa, papaw and mee-maw, nana and papa, oma and opa, gram gram and gramps, or some other pet name, being a grandparent is a wonderful stage of life to enter. Depending on what organization is providing the statistics, it is believed that there are 67-70 million grandparents in the United States alone. That’s a lot of people to celebrate today!
There is no doubt that grandparents have a unique role. With grandchildren, there isn’t as much stress because the ultimate pressure is on the parents. More than likely, we are at a better place financially than we were when raising our children, so we are able to do extra fun things with the kids. And we’ve mellowed with age and learned a few things along the way. We aren’t as “uptight” as we were when parenting. We love more generously, correct more patiently, and teach more consistently. Faith Gateway has a great article on this topic and describes the life of grandparents in the most elegant way.
“Laps open and ready for watching post-nap cartoons. Eyes crinkling in response to cartwheels and somersaults across the backyard. Heads thrown back in laughter during tickle sessions. Checks hidden in birthday cards. Games played on tables still sticky from holiday baking. Walks, hand in hand, through the leaves in the park. Ice cream on cones, stacked scoop upon scoop, licked in unison on an outside bench. Wrinkly hands curled atop piano keys while others gather around to listen.
“Grandparents — we all bring offerings that no other can duplicate: An offering of wisdom
that comes from living a lifetime. An offering of patience hewn from trial. An offering of laughter learned through making the most of both prosperous and lean times.”1
Psalms 92:12-14 has this to say. “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. (13) Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. (14) They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing…” “Old age” is often associated with being dried and shriveled up. These Scriptures remind us that even the aged in the Lord are still green vines producing fruit. Some of the best fruit is produced in the lives of grandchildren.
Grandparents, let’s be honest. Unless you are an extreme rarity, you know that the amount of time that grandchildren want to hang out with grandparents is limited. And you know that you are in the fourth quarter of life. That means we must make the most of this precious time.
I’ll leave you with a couple of passages, encouraging you to read and apply them.
Psalms 103:17-18 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; (18) To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
Psalms 71:15-18 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. (16) I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. (17) O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. (18) Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
1https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/god-s-words-of-life-on-grandparents
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