Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Precious Gems

When my seventeen year old daughter told me she was pregnant, one of the first things I said to her was "I am not raising your child." I told her it was her responsibility and that I would help her, but I wasn't going to be her built-in babysitter or allow her to push her responsibility off on me. I was sincerely trying to instill an acceptance of the responsibility and consequences for her actions. What I didn't realize was that I had adopted the self serving way of the culture.

Soon after my grand-daughter's birth, God began showing me that being a grandparent carried much more responsibility than this culture would have us believe. It's not just fun and games and give the kids back when the fun is over. Lets look at these key phrases: "I am not raising your child" and "I am not a built-in babysitter". These are what I refer to as culturally correct phrases, but what do they say about who I am living for and who I am living to serve? God did not put me here to live for myself, but to live for Him and to serve others.

Yes, parents do have the primary responsibility to raise up their kids. But grandparents have so much to contribute to the lives of their grandchildren. Even if it means taking on some added responsibility. In some cases that may be what is necessary to protect the child or it may be the only opportunity the child has to learn to know and love the Lord.

I'm not suggesting that grandparents take over the role of the parent, nor am I suggesting that we become enablers. What I'm saying is that we do have a responsibility to contribute to the teaching and training of our grandchildren, to the extent that God will allow it. Grandparents have a big impact on the lives of these precious gems and we need to use it for Kingdom purposes.

From the time my first grand-daughter was born eleven years ago, you could hardly get her out of my arms. I was always praying over her and singing "Jesus Loves Me" to her to comfort her. Now I have been blessed with three beautiful grand-daughters. Three precious gems that I intend to polish so that the light of Christ shines brightly from them. I have purposed in my heart that I will do all that I can to teach them to know and love the Lord with all their heart, mind and soul.

I hope you will join me every other Wednesday as I share some of the lessons my grand-daughters and I are learning together, as well as some lessons God has taught me over the years about the impact of our actions for generations to come.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9



Edie

21 comments:

Sharon Sloan said...

Hi, Edie.

Great post. Personally, I love my mom more and appreciate her so much more now that I am a parent! She is a wonderful grandmother to our children. I often call my mom "my oxygen". She provides me the relief I needed when they were babies and I was sleep deprived. She is still my oxygen in other ways now that they are 7 and 9.

Grandparents love our children with a wise love. A deep love. A special love.

God's love through you is embracing your sweet granddaughter.

So thankful for grandmothers!

Looking forward to your gems!

Sharon

Kelly said...

How I wish my children had a grandmother like you Edie! And I love the verse that you picked in Deut...your children AND tot heir children after them. You are doing a great job.

Thanks for sharing.

RCUBEs said...

We always think that our wisdom sounds so great until we seek His Word...then...ouch!
Your gdaughters are fortunate to have a godly-loving grandma in you! God bless you and may He continue to guide you and protect you. Bro. Warren had mentioned this site before, so I came back to follow when you posted...May the Lord bless your guys' site and continue to inspire and reveal His wisdom in all of your hearts. Blessings to you sister Edie.

Greg C said...

I have to say that is the thing I would say before the daughter became pregnant hoping to deter that from happening. However after she was pregnant it was the wrong thing to say. Great message.

From the Heart said...

Great post. There is something so very different in our feeling toward our grandchildren. When they were babies and they were at our house I always sang to them (even though I can't carry a tune in a bucket) and they always went to sleep (Christian songs). Now that they are getting older I find times or the Lord prompts me to talk with them and pray with them. When they were dedicated the pastor commissioned not only the parents but also the church and grandparents to help these babies know about Jesus.

You are a great grandmother. It shows through your posting.

I don't get to see mine very often but the times we do are very special.
Thanks,
AliceE.

Mary said...

Edie, your post was very special to me. I believe as you do, that scripture teaches grandparents are still to teach their grandchildren. My son and DIL have chosen to not take my grandgirls to church anymore, for whatever reason, so I am driving over 30 minutes, to take the youngest to Sunday School. My 10 yr. old calls me every night to pray with her, and she reads her devotional and bible before she goes to sleep. It makes me cry to know that the Lord has her heart...it breaks my heart that her parents aren't doing this with her, but I'm so thankful to God that they allow me to have such influence in her life. She is here almost every week-end and all school vacations, so I have alot of time with her, and I use every minute to instill Godly principles into her little heart. You and are I blessed to have our granddaughters near...so many are miles apart. My son knows how much I love the girls, but DIL doesn't always seem to care for my input. It can sometimes be a tightrope that I walk, but I continue to pray for guidance and grace, that I don't overstep their boundaries.

Thanks for this post...it meant a lot to me

God bless,

Mary

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post... great insight. From what I read in your own blog, you are one fabulous grandma teaching your grandbabies all about our Lord. It's so awesome!

KrippledWarrior said...

Thank you. That was worth the extra mouse click to get to.
The reason most grandparents and grandchildren get along so well, is they have a common enemy.
<°)}}}><

Eileen Astels Watson said...

I never had the opportunity to know my grandparents very well, and I'm afraid living away from both my husband's and my parents have put our own children in the same place.

I hope that when my day comes, I'll have the opportunity to be a hands-on grandparent as much as my daughters and their husbands would have me.

B His Girl said...

I love how God softened your views. You inspire me with the girls. B

Heidi said...

Your writing is so inspirational. I love it! You are bold for Christ, sharing the hope you have in Him is first and foremost of importance to you and it shows through each wonderful teaching post you write.

I'm so thankful that your granddaughters have you- what a blessing you are to them and wonderful that you also learn and grow through them.

Reaching Flood Stage said...

God created family to be a support system for individual members. It's amazing how much wiser we appear to our children as they age and begin to experience what we already knew and tried to tell them all along. I know I have become closer to my heavenly Father through being a parent myself. He has taught so much about Himself through my parenting my four children. I anticipate that when my children have children it will bring us closer in the same way!

Sandy said...

Thanks for the sweet reminder that we as grandparents have a responsibility that goes along with the privilege. Since mine live next door, I have lots of time with them for all the fun things. But I'm not as good at talking frequently about spiritual things. I pray with them when they spend the night or when I'm putting them to bed at their house. And I pray for them frequently. But I want to be more deliberate about injecting spiritual truths into our daily interactions. It is such a blessing to know that their parents are instructing them in the ways of the Lord, & I have the opportunity to reinforce that through my time with them. Thanks again for the challenge!

Warren Baldwin said...

Very good! I'm kind of like Greg here - I have said that to my children - "I'm not going to raise your kids." But, if one of them had a child outside of marriage, I know Cheryl and I would be right in there with them (at least I think we would!). You have handled this situation well. Good post.

Karen Hossink said...

Yeah! That's the kind of Grandma I want to be.
I mean, someday. Like in 11 or 12 years. Not soon! LOL

Unknown said...

Wow, this was a beautiful post and has made me rethink of what I want the roles of my parents and inlaws to be in my children's lives. Thank you for sharing this

Unknown said...

Wow, this was a beautiful post and has made me rethink of what I want the roles of my parents and inlaws to be in my children's lives. Thank you for sharing this

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

This was a great post, Edie! My children are still young, but to see how my parents have influenced them in their walk with the Lord is fantastic. Grandparents can have such a great impact on the generations to come.

Looking forward to reading more in the weeks to come.

Sue J. said...

I like the translation of the Romans 12 passage...."don't copy." It's one of those things you are told all your life--and it's not just about test answers!! The world is full of holes to step into and be trapped by. When we choose to follow God's will, we may feel the sting of brushing up against the world's values, but we won't be trapped.

You found yourself in a very difficult role lo those many years ago--still with a daughter who needed your direction. God has brought you through so many things so beautifully. We can all learn from your faithfulness!

Beth Herring said...

Edie - we do have a lot in common. I experienced not 1 but 2 pregnant teenage daughters. It was something I never though I would have to face, but through the Grace of God, we made it. When my oldest daughter got pregnant, we indeed gave her and my sweet Mikaela a home for 5 months after she was born before my daughter married. Broke my heart the day they left.... But, God is so good.

LisaShaw said...

BOY was I blessed in this reading! Love your heart Edie.

Loved this: "I'm not suggesting that grandparents take over the role of the parent, nor am I suggesting that we become enablers. What I'm saying is that we do have a responsibility to contribute to the teaching and training of our grandchildren, to the extent that God will allow it. Grandparents have a big impact on the lives of these precious gems and we need to use it for Kingdom purposes."