Psalm 78
1 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands. 8 They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him.
2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands. 8 They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him.
Being a grandparent is fun, but not just that. Grandparents should be repositories of God’s great deeds in the family. They should be the conscience and storehouse of the family. They provide a sort of family history that needs to be transferred to grand and great grandchildren. There is, or should be, an affinity between grandparents and grandchildren. This special love should open doors for countless “teachable moments” in which wisdom is shared.
My grandkids have countless questions about their parents, what they were like when they were little, neat stories from their lives. I share all kinds of stories, but especially stories of how God worked in and through them.
We had a sleep over last night and this morning, I had two five year olds climb in bed with me and snuggle down. One asked me whether I had ever lived in Atlanta. “Why do you want to know that?” I asked. “Did you ever meet Martin Luther King Jr.?” he replied. No but I know about him.
A conversation ensued that revealed a great deal of knowledge these two five year olds had accumulated re Dr King and his work. It was an opportunity to talk about a Christian’s role in the world regarding justice. How God can use us to set societal wrongs right. What a great time.
How are you envisioning your role as a grandparent? Do you see yourself as the giver of neat gifts? The “easy mark” for treats? The source of special trips and events? Are you seriously taking to heart your role as one who interprets God’s work in the family? One who transfers to your grandchildren an absolute commitment to God and His word? Do you seek to help your grandchildren fully commit their lives to Christ and live their lives with God and His thoughts, plans, and ambitions at the center of how they live their lives?
We grandparents have such a weighty charge laid at our feet. Will we help point our grand, great-grand, and great-great grandchildren to Christ? How can you alter your interactions with them to capture the multitude of “teachable moments” that will arise in your dealings with them?
