“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am , persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV)”
I turned on the local gospel radio channel and heard a song by an artist who told her life story, including the highlights, as well as the highly intense and horrible dark days she experienced when she was on her own. Side note: On your own, all grown up and able to make your own decisions comes with plenty of testing, temptations, and troubles. Back to the content of the song, one of which I don’t know the name of or the artist performing it. Laid out as an abbreviated autobiography, the song includes the lyrics, “I had a praying grandma.” She gave credit to grandma’s prayers for protecting her against the schemes of the devil. That prompts me to say, “Thank God for godly grandparents.” She goes on in her unbridled narration between singing and she describes how “they” all went to church on Sunday when grandma was alive. But when grandma passed away, “they” stopped going to church.
Immediately, I thought of the grandparents in my own congregation who bring their grandchildren to church. Again I was prompted to say, “Thank God for godly grandparents.” Yes, thank God for grandmas and grandpas, Big Mommas and Big Poppas, and the Paw-Paws and Ma-Maws who not only prayed for their own children, but ensure that their grandchildren are exposed to the church and the faith in God of adult Christians who know that life would be different if you don’t recognize that the Lord is on the side of His people.
In the song, the artist, captivating the ears of the listeners, she goes on to tell her heart wrenching story that took her through drugs and a deviation down the wrong road of life, and she describes explicitly how the devil had her for a while. But she goes on to say, in so many words, how she was delivered because the Lord had a different, a better purpose for her life. I’m sure grandma’s prayers were still instrumental in her victory. I’m sure that the seeds planted by her grandma started to flourish and help her fight our adversary. Thank God for godly grandparents.
It’s the day after the holiday and many of you who are grandparents will interact with your children and their children, checking on their well-being after this past weekend. Share this message via this meditation with your children, especially these italicized words, “While we are thankful for godly grandparents, parents need to stay with the Lord, and keep going to church. For if they don’t stop just because the grandma and grandpa are no longer around, the risk of their children being denied abundant life is very possible.” That’s a possibility that needs to be confronted today, so point your children, even if they are adults, in the right direction for the sake of your grandchildren. You see unfortunately, it is still true in many churches, that when grandma is no longer around, going to the house of the Lord regularly decreases or disappears from the younger generation’s priorities. Thank God for godly grandparents!
As the Apostle Paul pointed to Timothy’s grandma and his mother, I hope in your lineage the same thing can be said about how your grandparents and parents helped the children in the next generation develop their own sincere faith and steadfast faith walk with the Lord. Let the Lord use you to bring about such a positive influence! Start with forwarding this email and go from there! And listen, if you need some help, grandparents, parents, see the verse below. Now, before I close, let me say it one more time: “Thank God for godly grandparents.” And know that I am hoping for more godly parents for which we can also be thankful for assuming their responsibility of developing the faith of their children! Have a great Tuesday! Be blessed!
“Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will carry you! I have done it, and I will bear you; and I will carry you and I will save you.” (Isaiah 46:4 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King