INTENTIONAL GRANDPARENTING DURING THE HOLIDAYS

 What does it mean to be an “intentional Christian grandparent”?  To me it means to take seriously my role to lift up Christ and His Gospel to the next generations, and to finish the race well by passing on God’s grace and truth so that future generations will know, love and serve Christ.  

 When I open my internet browser home page, I see loving pictures of grandparents with their grandchildren and helpful daily blogs from a website called “Grandmas with Heart.”  This is a reminder to me every time I log onto the internet to be an intentional Christian grandparent.  A recent blog post I found there was entitled “Your Grandma Power.”  This article described how the writer’s young grandson had snatched one of her fresh baked cookies and said: "Your 'grandma power' is making cookies!"  I think my grandchildren would say my “grandma power” is planning fun activities and games for holidays, especially family activities at Christmas time.  They have some favorites that they ask for us to play every Christmas.

 Here are some activities that you can plan to do with your grandchildren this Christmas to intentionally share the love of Christ with them.  Please understand that these are not all my own original ideas but ones I have researched and tweaked using many Christian websites.  So here we go with a few ideas to help you intentionally share the love of Jesus with your grandchildren at Christmas.

 Idea Number 1—Record the True Account of Jesus’ Birth

One of the things about Christmas which brings us joy is the opportunity it provides for us to share with our grandchildren the true account of Jesus' birth—the real reason for the season. You could sit your grandchildren down and record/film them sharing the account of Jesus' birth—in their own words. It is certain to be a recording/video you will treasure. What a cherished treasure it would be to have the recording/film of your grandchildren sharing the Christmas account in their words and then one day to add the recording/film of your great-grandchildren doing the same!

 Idea Number 2—Homemade Christmas Cards

Christmas gives us the perfect opportunity to involve our grandchildren in thinking about and praying for the people we know and love.  To help them learn to do this, why not get them involved in making the Christmas cards for this year instead of buying them. You can have your grandchildren draw the design on the cover, you can write the inside greeting, and then pray together for the people who will be receiving the cards. Pray the coming year will draw the people who receive the cards closer to Jesus.

Idea Number 3—Star of Bethlehem Ornaments 

If you search the internet for homemade Christian Christmas ornaments, there are hundreds to choose from along with YouTube videos that demonstrate how to make them.  Here is an idea to make a Star of Bethlehem ornament. All you need is clothes pins, glue, and strips of paper with a Christmas message. Gather your grandchildren and read from Matthew 2 about how the Wise Men followed the star. Talk with your grandchildren about how God set the star in the sky to lead the wise men to Jesus and how He uses people and circumstances today to draw people to Jesus. You could find music to listen to while making the ornaments such as Beautiful Star of Bethlehem. You could also share with your grandchildren how you were drawn to Jesus and made the choice to believe in Him. If your grandchildren would like to make additional star ornaments to give to people they know, help them make more. Take time to pray with your grandchildren for the people who will receive the Christmas Star Ornament.

Idea Number 4—Start a new family Christmas Tradition

Help your grandchildren focus on others this season by making use of the Christmas cards received in the mail. Place the cards in a basket on the dinner table and take turns drawing one out. Then pray together for that person or family.  Also, you could start a new family tradition by picking out a new holiday picture book to read on Christmas Eve.

 Idea Number 5—Christmas Story Scavenger Hunt

This activity is a fun way for kids to celebrate Christmas on December 25th while helping them to focus on the real reason for Christmas—Jesus’ birthday. Print out Luke 2:1-20 and cut the scripture passage into 25 scavenger hunt clues, next weave the clues into whatever Christmas bows you have on hand and stick the bows around the house (or simply tape the clues around the house if it is easier).  Then have your grandchildren go on a Christmas bow scavenger hunt. When they have found all 25 clues, they will be reminded of the real meaning of Christmas by putting the story of Jesus’ birth back in order and reading it together as a family.

 Idea number 6—Serving Others This Christmas Season

We are called to humbly serve other people but sometimes it’s hard to come up with ways to help others. Here is a list of quick ways you can encourage your grandchildren to serve their siblings, parents, and neighbors this Christmas season.

 Ideas for ways your grandchildren can serve their brothers and sisters:

• Pray for them.
• Do one of their chores.
• Give them the biggest piece of dessert—even if it’s your favorite.
• Offer them the best seat at the table, in the car or when watching a movie.
• Tell parents something good about them.
• Make their bed.

 Ideas for ways your grandchildren can serve their parents:

• Do something helpful without being asked.
• Be ready to leave for school or church early, so your parents don’t have to wait for you.
• Obey without talking back.
• Write a letter or draw a picture to tell your parents you love them.
• Pick up your toys and art supplies.
• Make breakfast in bed for your parents.

 Ideas for ways your grandchildren can serve their neighbors:

• Bring them a fresh batch of cookies.
• Invite them to a Christmas service at your church, a play at your school or another Christmas activity.
• Sing Christmas carols by their front door with a group of friends.
• Shovel their driveway and sidewalk—and don’t accept payment.
• Write a letter or draw a picture to share the Christmas story.
• Ask them to tell you about Christmas memories when they were your age.

 Idea Number 7—The Gift of Scripture

Ask each family member to select a Scripture that has meant something to them during the past year. On Christmas morning, take turns reading the chosen verse or passage and share why it was important to them. This is a way to include Jesus in the gift-giving, and it helps everyone focus more on our Savior.

 Hopefully, you found at least one idea to share with your grandchildren this Christmas season.  If you will not be able to see your grandchildren in person this Christmas season, most of these activities can be shared via Facetime, Zoom, phone calls, or any other way you might choose to connect with your grandchildren who live at a distance.

 Now back to my Grandma Power!  Even though my grandchildren might say my “grandma power” is game planning, my greatest "grandma power" is to pray for my grandchildren. Prayer is a true "super" power that both grandma and grandpa can possess, because God is big enough and loving and gracious enough to answer our prayers.  Jeremiah 29:12-14a: Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.

 So, be a grandma/grandpa with the "power" but remember your greatest "grandma/grandpa power" is to pray for your grandchildren. 

 My prayer for 2021:

We thank You Father for new beginnings. Our new beginnings start with You, for Your love is unfailing. Your “mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 2:22-23).

 Please help us forget what lies behind, so we don’t drag any shame, regret or sense of personal failure into the New Year. Lead us as we strain forward to what lies ahead, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14, paraphrased).

 We pray for opportunities to share our redemption stories with our sons and daughters, our grandsons and granddaughters, so they, too, trust You for their own new beginnings.

 In Christ’s Name, we pray.

     By what name do you call your mother? I am not sure why, but from the beginning my sister, my brother and I have called our mother, “Momma.” I am so blessed that my mother is still living, and at age 87 she often tells me that one of the most beautiful sounds for her to hear is that all her children still call her “Momma.” For me, one of the most beautiful sounds for me to hear is when my mother tells me that she loves me. Each time we end a conversation, Momma always says, “I love you sooooo much.”

     Mother’s Day is a special day for remembering our mothers and to remember all that they have done for us, all they mean to us, and who we are because of them. God knit us together in our mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13-14: "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." What a joy and blessing it is for a mother to hold her newborn child and then to hold her child’s hand throughout life. The love of a mother for her child is the closest thing to the love of God for mankind and especially His love for His children.  From the time of conception, there is a bond between mother and child that is sacred in God’s eyes.  

     The Bible tells us about the special relationship that Jesus had with his own mother. Luke 2:51-52 “Then Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Even on the cross he cared for his mother by asking John to take over her care. John 19:25-27 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother…When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

      My sister and I are only 18 months apart in age and my brother is 18 years younger than me. We grew up on a farm in north Missouri and our mother was given to us by God to care for us, provide for us, to teach us His ways, and to love us even in our ups and downs. She was always there guiding and praying, comforting and protecting, cheering us on, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. She taught us how to work hard work, live frugally, give generously, save, build, dream, and rely on the Lord. As her children we boldly declare with Proverbs 31:28 "Her children rise up and call her blessed.

     God also placed three other amazing mothers in my life, my Grandma Baugher, my Grandma Berry, and my mother-in-law. I cherish the time, love, and devotion they invested in my life up until God called them home to glory. This scripture passage describes the kind of love these special women demonstrated on a daily basis. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

     The endless love of one’s mother is best understood when a daughter becomes a mother herself.   When I became a mother and experienced my love for my own child, I had a much deeper understanding of a mother’s love. God blessed Chuck and me with one son. He was such a joy to us as he grew up. When our children are young, we often wonder if we will make it through the lack of sleep and exhaustion we experience when they are little. We often joked that we were known as Greg’s parents, not our own identity during his teenage years. Now that our son is grown, I treasure all the stages of his maturing to adulthood and now as he leads his family to trust and obey God. My most important job as his mother was to help lead him to put his faith and trust in Jesus and demonstrate to him my love for God’s word each day. Deuteronomy 6:6–7: "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Proverbs 1:8-9: "Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."

     I could sum up my love as a mother with this scripture, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in truth. 3 John 4
     Now I have taken on a new role as a grandmother, I cherish the opportunity to witness how God is using my daughter-in-law as an amazing mother in my grandchildren’s lives. Proverbs 31:26: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." 1 Peter 3:4: "You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

     My prayer as a grandmother is, “Jesus please help me to inhale your grace and pass it on as a legacy of faith.” Deuteronomy 4:9: "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

     Sometimes not all mother and child relationships weather the storms of this life and many are broken.  Maybe you did not grow up having good role models or maybe you were in situations you never wanted to be in. Maybe you have a wayward child who does not want a relationship with you. We know that broken relationships grieve the heart of God. There’s no perfect mother and there’s no perfect child.  All relationships need forgiveness and a readiness to give grace to each other.  Apologizing to your children when you lose your temper or make a mistake shows them what grace and forgiveness look like. Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”.

     In addition to celebrating our mothers who are with us, we also remember our mothers (and grandmothers) who are no longer living, and now dwell only in our hearts. We also remember women who do not have the child that they so desperately wanted to love. You may have lost a child through death or through miscarriage, and we seek God’s comfort for you. You can rest in the promise of God’s unconditional love for you and for your child lost through death or miscarriage.

     Please take time this Mother’s Day to let the mothers around you know how special they are. Whether a mother by birth, by adoption, by love, or by grace, today we celebrate the women who love us through it all. Today we celebrate all they are and have done, their endless sacrifice, and their unconditional love.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO EACH OF YOU

And HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY MOMMA—I love you soooo much!