“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons 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 up.” Deuteronomy 6:6,7
As a grandmother of nine very special little gifts, I realize that these verses from Deuteronomy are both relevant and applicable to the relationship that I have with my grandchildren.
This became abundantly clear to me again at Christmas as we received family Christmas Cards with pictures of families all together or with all the grandchildren with their grandparents. How this grandmother’s heart longs to have her family altogether in one place! But it’s not to be.
So how do I apply these verses in a practical way when my grandchildren are literally spread out across North America? The most important impact I can have on their lives is through prayer — daily praying for each grandchild by name, praying specific scriptures for them, just as I prayed for their parents a generation before. And when the occasion presents itself, whether in person or online, I try to let them know that they are in my thoughts and prayers daily, whether they live nearby or far away.
I not only pray for them; I encourage them to be thankful. I have personally chosen to find things to be thankful for daily, and so I ask them what they are thankful for that day. Some find it easier to think of something, but with each one we search through the memories of the day to find something. In this way, I model a heart of gladness, giving thanks in all things, as Scripture admonishes us.
How can you teach your children or grandchildren what the Lord has commanded you?
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of our family, both our children and our grandchildren. I pray that they would be filled with all knowledge and understanding of Your will, so that they would walk in a manner worthy of You. Amen.
Take Action
Take time this week to daily pray for your children and grandchildren by name, using Colossians 1:9-12 as your guide.
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