Category Archives: Grandparenting

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Scary Things

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All testimonies are not sweetness and light. In fact, as I get older, I have become suspicious of those who share only victories, blessings, and triumphs. Now, I do believe that God blesses His children. I believe that God answers prayer and has a plan for my good. But I am suspicious of those who only share the positive occurrences in their lives. I am suspicious because even Jesus “learned obedience through the things He suffered.” What makes me think that I am exempt from suffering? In fact, Jesus says in John 16:33 -“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (emphasis mine)

So – as long as I live in this world – I will have times of trouble. BUT, take heart. In other words, be encouraged. Not that everything will always go my way, but that there is no darkness where God is.

Our grandchildren wanted night lights in the bedrooms when they stayed with us over Thanksgiving. The unknown of the darkness caused them to be afraid. Once that faint, but visible night-light shown, they were able to feel safe and fall asleep.

Kathy, a friend who has been real, honest, and transparent shared a powerful testimony Sunday. It wasn’t about a victory, a blessing, or a triumph. It was the reality that when we face the scary things that can paralyze us with fear – God is light in the darkness. Situations are scary because we know the consequences can be devastating – even life threatening. There is reason for the fear we feel. Yet God wants to shine His light in those dark corners of doubt and fear. He wants to illuminate those circumstances in such a way that we can see Him in the midst of our circumstances.

Kathy encouraged us to see God in our scary situations. She shared this Scripture:

Isaiah 54:17

 No weapon forged against you will prevail,
    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

When, not if, we face those scary situations, may we remember –

1 John 1:5(NIV)

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

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Hard of Hearing

Okay, at my next physical exam I will have my hearing tested. I’ll be 61 next month, which is NOT old, but it certainly is older than 30. I don’t want to be like two very wonderful and Godly men I have known that couldn’t hear well, but did not want to do anything about it. I am sure they had their reasons, but at the same time they were missing out on hearing some lovely aspects of our world. Whenever possible I want to wake to hear the birds singing, or tune into the highest and lowest notes of a choral rendition. This is especially true if it is my grandchildren are singing!

I find myself turning the volume up on the radio and yet the music students listen to is WAY too loud for me. (a certain sign that you are old – adolescents’ music is too loud! I remember my parents saying that about Peter, Paul, and Mary).  Paradoxically, I will hear comments and words my high school students say and when I call them to account, their common response is – “I didn’t think you could hear me.” So, my hearing is not totally deficient – yet.

God uses the term “hearing” to describe the ability of His children to understand what He wants to communicate with us.

Matthew 13:14-16

14 In them (meaning those who are hard of hearing)  is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”  16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Jesus is talking to His disciples about the need for spiritual eyes, ears, and hearts that are open to Jesus’ teaching. Just as our ears can become “hard of hearing” physically, our spiritual ears can become “hard of hearing” in regards to what our Heavenly Father wants to say to us. Our children often display “selective hearing” in response to our direction or correction in their lives – so do we.

To be honest, I sometimes practice “selective hearing” with my Heavenly Father. When I hear Him say something I feel positive about – I am quick to obey. If I am less pleased with His direction, I may be slow to respond – maybe even act as though I didn’t hear anything to start with.

Our children do this as well. When we encourage them to listen and obey quickly, we are preparing them to listen to and respond to their Heavenly Father. I  want to be a mother, friend, and grandmother who has excellent hearing spiritually. Then I can be an example to those I love, and, like verse 16 says –  be blessed by my Heavenly Father.

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Servant Leaders

Helping Nana

I am so pleased when one of my students cleans up without being asked. It warms my heart when a student helps another student just because assistance is needed. High school students often get a “bad rap” for being selfish and self-centered. Yet I am often blessed to see another side – a side that would shock their parents in a good way.

What cultivates a servant’s heart? Why do some young people notice when help is needed – and then respond? There may be various reasons, yet I know of two qualities that fertilize seeds of service.

First – positive examples. When children see adults serve others, it demonstrates a living example of a servant. If parents and grandparents are the ones who help carry groceries in from the car, clean up after meals, offer to sweep the porch, or rake the leaves – children will see this and follow the example. It is a wonderful opportunity to include older children in work days for the church or elderly neighbors. Working alongside your child or grandchild allows fellowship as well as the fulfillment of serving together.

Second – providing opportunities for service. The earlier children learn to serve others, the sooner it allows serving to become a pattern of behavior. It is often easier and less stressful to do a chore ourselves. Yet, when we need help, our children and grandchildren may not know what to do or how to follow through in a helpful way. Depending on the age of a child, giving them responsibility for small tasks develops their confidence and their ability to follow through. Early acts of service may include:

  • wiping off the table
  • putting forks and spoons at each place for a meal
  • folding wash cloths or hand towels
  • sweeping the deck or sidewalk
  • matching socks
  • raking leaves, picking up sticks (stick patrol)

Jesus is the ultimate example of a servant.

Let Christ be your example of humility – Philippians 2:5-11

5-11 Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God’s equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. And, having become man, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death he died was the death of a common criminal. That is why God has now lifted him so high, and has given him the name beyond all names, so that at the name of Jesus “every knee shall bow”, whether in Heaven or earth or under the earth. And that is why, in the end, “every tongue shall confess” that Jesus Christ” is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus also said –

Mark 9:35-40 (NLT)

35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our elected officials would take this attitude?

May we be examples of servant leaders to the precious children in our lives.