Grand parents" Rooted in Love"

When most of the books of the Bible were written, parents and grandparents held positions of honor. Children were expected to revere their elders and learn from them. When God introduced the Law to the Israelite nation, He even included a commandment to “honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). God also made it part of His Law that the younger person should stand in the presence of the elderly as a sign of respect (Leviticus 19:32).

Implied within this command is a multi-generational attitude of honor toward senior relatives. As children observed their parents honoring the grandparents, they, in turn, would shoulder that responsibility when their time came.

There is nothing like the love and adoration of a grandparent to their grandchildren. It is a special relationship that is often filled with incredible joy. What does the Bible have to say about grandparents? How can they contribute to the lives of their grandchildren? What role do they play in the lives of their children and grandchildren?

“Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child’s growth as vitamins.”

“A Grandma’s love feels like no one else’s!”

“Grandparents are a delightful blend of laughter, caring deeds, wonderful stories, and love.”

“A grandparent has silver in their hair and gold in their heart.”

“Having fun with your grandkids is great! But that’s not the best part of grandparenting. The best part is having the amazing privilege of passing the baton of faith.”

The blessing of being a grandparent

First and foremost, the Bible calls being a grandparent a tremendous blessing. God has given children to a family to bless them. This is a blessing not only for the parents but for all of the family – and the grandparents are especially blessed. This relationship should be very important and it can easily be one of the most beautiful relationships in that child’s life.

1. Proverbs 17:6 “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”

2. Psalm 92:14 “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.”

3. Proverbs 16:31 “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

4. Psalm 103:17 “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lords love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.

5. Proverbs 13:22 “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”

The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is beautiful. Grandparents are given to us to bestow their wisdom on us, to teach us about God and His word, and to help raise up children who will serve the Lord. Even as they age and are able to do less, they are no less valuable. Their lessons may change as they age – but we still will learn to love others and to love God by caring for them. There are several beautiful examples in Scripture about the precious blessing that the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren can be.

6. Genesis 31:55 “Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.”

7. 2 Timothy 1:5 “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.”

8. Genesis 48:9 “Joseph said to his father, ‘They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.”

The responsibilities of grandparents.

Grandparents have roles given to them by God. These roles are to play an intrigal part in the lives of their children and grandchildren. While the role of grandparent is not as authoritative in the life of the children, it is no less influential and significant.

First and foremost, Grandparents have a responsibility to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. The sins of the grandparents can have a lasting effect upon the life of their children and grandchildren. The younger generations are watching them – watching them closely – and learning from what they see. Grandparents need to live lives that are centered around glorifying God with all that they do.

Grandparents are also supposed to teach sound doctrine to their children and grandchildren. The word of God must be central to their lives. They have to know sound doctrine in order to teach it. Grandparents are also supposed to be dignified and self controlled. They have to live lives that are reverent in behavior and be sober minded. They should teach their children and grandchildren how to be godly husbands and wives. They are to help train and teach the grandchildren in how to live lives that honor God.

The responsibility of grandchildren .

Just as grandparents have responsibility towards their grandchildren, the grandchildren have a responsibility towards their grandparents. Grandchildren are to honor their parents and grandparents. We bestow honor by speaking truthfully about them and by speaking respectfully to them and listening to them when they speak. Grandparents who love Jesus seek to teach their grandchildren – who have the responsibility of listening to them so that they might learn. Children and grandchildren have the responsibility of caring for their parents and grandparents as they age. This is a blessing and a learning opportunity all in one.

12. Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

13. Proverbs 4:1-5 “Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.’’

14. Psalm 71:9 “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.”

15. Proverbs 1:8-9 “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”

16. 1 Timothy 5:4 “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.”

17. Proverbs 16:31 “Grey hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”

18. Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I haves made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”

19. Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

20. Psalm 92:14-15 “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

21. Isaiah 40:28-31 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

An unusual grandparenting relationship is found in the book of Ruth. The story of Ruth is a beautiful tale of love and loyalty between a young widow and her bereaved mother-in-law, Naomi. Although her husband is dead, Ruth chooses to stay with her mother-in-law to care for her.

She even leaves her own people, the Moabites, to follow Naomi back to Israel where she meets and marries Boaz. When their first child is born, the townspeople congratulate Naomi, saying, “Naomi has a son!” (Ruth 4:14–17). The child was no blood relation to Naomi, but, because of the love and connection between her and Ruth, she adopted the baby as her own grandchild. This reminds us that grandparenting can come in many forms. In this day of broken families, divorce, and step-parenting, godly men and women who will adopt their children’s step-children as their own grandchildren are blessed, as Naomi was blessed.

Her adopted grandchild, Obed, became the grandfather of King David.

When God designed this world, He instituted the family as His means of propagating the earth and teaching us about love and relationship. He intended for the elder to teach the younger and for the younger to revere the elder. Grandparents play a unique role in this design. Free from the responsibility to train and discipline a child, grandparents can offer open arms, acceptance, and a safe place for a child to run when things are not going well with Mom and Dad.

Grandparents can provide wisdom beyond that of the parents, since they have already walked this road many years before. A wise grandparent, though, will never intrude upon a parental decision in front of the child. A grandparent’s role is not to supersede the parent but to support, encourage, and counsel as needed. When parents, grandparents, and children are living out their roles as God designed, the entire family thrives.