“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17:6 New International Version)
A ten-year old granddaughter shared with her grandfather that she had figured out why grandparents give their children money. I won’t quote it verbatim, but paraphrasing, this is what she said in so many words, “Grandparents give a lot of money to their grandchildren because they know they can’t take it with them.” Being a grandparent, actually a great-grandfather now, I laughed until I was crying. That was externally, on the outside. Inside, I got serious, and reflected on a question, “Who are these grandparents with a lot of money?” It must be a relative perspective.
After pondering, pausing to laugh here and there about the ten-year old’s explanation or shall we say rational, I thought about the real reasons why grandparents bless their children with money and/or gifts of great value.
Here are the top three reasons that came to mind: (1) The motive is love. Love is kind, according to the scriptures. Kindness is revealed in many ways, including giving. (2) Also, as a matter of fact, grandparents are responsible for passing on the faith that dwells in them. Hence, when it comes to faith, when possible, that moves the responsible grandparent to do good things to supplement their own children’s efforts to raise their children in a world where economic struggles strike all families in every income bracket. (Somebody, maybe it was you, just said in their mind, “He ain’t lying!) Listen! If grandparents can help in any way, that will contribute to their children’s son’s and daughter’s development and help them circumvent the ever-expanding, devious paths that shall tempt them: socially, psychologically, literally, or spiritually, paths that are off the narrow path of righteousness and do not reflect the ways of the righteous. (3) Grandparents bless children while they are in the land of the living because they like to see the joy on their faces or hear the elation in their voices. They experience the saying, “It is better to give than receive.”
Now back to the ten-year old. The granddaughter’s explanation was fairly, factually accurate, for we cannot take our money with us to glory. Only what we do for Christ will last. Here’s some good news, an added reason why grandparents bless their children. You see, one day, Lord willing, these grandchildren will be the grandparents, and they will emulate or duplicate what their grandparents did for them.
When you bow your head to pray in the sanctuary this morning, and I know you are going to church, thank God for the grandparents in your life living here or residing in glory, and if the shoe fits, express your gratitude for the blessing of being a Maw-Maw or Paw-Paw. Furthermore, remember where your legacy of faith started! Be inspired by the closing verse. Be blessed!
“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” (2 Timothy 4:2 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King