Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for truth. Lord, please help those who are called by Your name to walk in Your ways. Lord, help each of us to take heed to ourselves. To be diligent with our relationship with You. Please help me to be diligent. Lord, help each of us to be servants before You, humble and grateful. Lord, help us teach our children and our grandchildren about You. Please Lord, let each and every one of us learn to love as You do. Lord, I believe, help me with my unbelief, help me trust You more, help me rest in Your peace, please help me let go of expectations and simply love You. Lord Jesus, I trust You with all things. Lord, I realize that my perspective is very limited and instead of looking at circumstances, I will look to You. I praise You, Lord, for You are worthy of all praise. Thank You, Jesus for everything! Amen.
Being a Grammy has been more fun than I could ever have imagined.
My husband can tell you I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.
As a teen I used to say, “I can’t wait to be that sweet grey-haired old lady who gives out cookies to kids.”
I’ve learned a great deal since my teen years about being an adult and dealing with children.
Parenthood taught me a lot and I’m still learning daily.
Now as a Grammy I’m learning more.
Proper boundaries are super important.
My husband and I value our daughter and son-in-law too much to purposely ignore their “do”s and”don’t”s.
We have enjoyed getting to watch them teach Faye things.
I’ve also enjoyed sharing moments with her as a Grammy.
Something we’ve done, since the weather has allowed, is go outside and pet the plants.
It might sound strange, but I wanted her to be safe.
Before she was old enough to understand this lesson, she got a handful of my potted indoor plant and jerked out a large section.
I didn’t mind the damage to the plant, but it brought to my attention the need for her to learn what is okay and not.
Since both her parents had taught her the word gentle and it’s meaning, I thought she’d be able to put it into practice in the garden.
After all, little people often put what is in their hands in their mouths and many plants are not for eating.
So, she went on many garden walks with me and knows how to handle the plants.
She gently touches them, sometimes over and over with her little fingers very carefully.
She has pulled a few blooms off now and again, but each time is another opportunity to instill in her how to touch without harm.
So, I was extra blessed when we got to see her with Bubba.
Her little hand reached out to explore this new sibling and her momma cautioned, “Gentle.”
Softly, like on a rose petal her hand touched her brother.
Then she let go.
All of us made all kinds of happy noise as her little pink lips placed a gentle kiss on him.
It was adorable!
I’m already praying for their relationship as brother and sister.
I pray they will love and support each other.
That they will look out for the other’s best interest.
That they will grow to be great friends.
Most importantly, that they will know Jesus and put their trust in Him.
That they will encourage one another in righteousness.
What a wonderful gift God gives when He blesses a family with a child!
Truly they are precious in the eyes of the Lord.
Psalm 127:3 KJV — Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Matthew 18:10 KJV — Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for children. What an incredible blessing it is to be with them. Lord, often it can be difficult to know what to teach and what to let go of. Sometimes our own desires get in the way of hearing from You as to what is best. Please help our children be wonderful godly parents. Please help us to be parents of integrity, truth, and love. Lord, help us know how to support our children as they support the little ones. Please help us to not grow weary in doing good as we have fewer children at home. Please help us to finish well. Thank You so much for these blessings. May we honor You in all we do. Amen.
He smiled big, laughed with joy, and hugged me tight.
My husband and our children and grandchildren were there, too.
I was so excited to introduce each one to him.
But before I did Grandpa just kept one arm around me and looked into my face.
We were both enjoying getting to see one another.
Then, with a smile, he spoke, “You know, you are a real beauty.”
This caught me by surprise.
It also made me feel treasured.
I smiled back.
“Grandpa, of course you would think so. I look like my mother, your daughter, and she looks like her mother, Grandma Ruth.”
He laughed and squeezed me.
I went on to introduce him to our family.
When I awoke this morning, my heart felt rosy with love.
Because I didn’t grow up with grandparents.
My mother’s family are from Michigan and we’ve always lived on the West coast.
My father’s mother died when I was four, I have no memory of her.
My father’s father traveled a great deal and I can’t remember a single conversation he ever had with me.
He died when I was in highschool.
So, this dream was sweet for me.
Although, my memories of my mother’s father are fuzzy and less than the fingers on one hand, I remember him laughing and hugging me.
I was pretty small, small enough to sit on his knee.
But last night’s dream brought me a new gift.
I know it’s from God.
If I can feel blessed by a dream of my Grandfather’s kind words, what an impact my words can have in real life to those I love!
My grandchildren (I love saying that!) are an incredible opportunity.
To love them for Jesus, to teach them about God’s Word, what a wonderful heritage!
The same is true for my own children.
To love them daily, to make sure I am speaking words of encouragement.
To lovingly speak words of truth, and to stir up righteousness in them.
To pray for each one, lifting them before the Lord, that I might be centered on Christ’s will for them instead of my own ideas.
The legacy I can pass on does require being purposeful.
To be open to the LORD’s leading in the day-to-day things so I don’t plant weeds but seeds of life.
But I can’t think of anything more worthwhile than leaving a legacy of following Jesus.
I praise God for this dream of my grandfather.
It has reminded me of my value to Jesus and my opportunity to value others.
Our soul waits for the Lord ; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Psalms 33:20-21 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for this encouragement. Thank You for reminding me of the truth, that I can pour into others as You pour into me. Lord, thank You for loving me more than any person on Earth, because it is in You I find myself, a child of God. Lord Jesus, please help my husband and I to be honorable parents and grandparents. Help us to live with integrity and humility. Please shine through us into those around us and our loved ones. Thank You so much for placing us near our grandchildren. We are so blessed to be a part of their lives and the lives of our children. Lord Jesus, may we bring honor and glory to Your name. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 