The Difference Grandparents Can Make
At church, a new friend invited me to her Grandmothers’ Prayer Group – specifically for the “grand” purpose of praying for our grandchildren. The pictures that follow indicate that I made it – and it didn’t disappoint. What precious moments ensued. They asked for the names of my grandchildren and their ages. As I listed them off, I saw the women writing down their names in their prayer journals.
These are serious and devoted women of prayer. In fact, one gal couldn’t make it in person, but she was with us from the leader’s iPad where she could see and be a part of the group. These were grandmothers of all ages – from young 40-ish grandmothers to the oldest, and proud-of-it, whipper-snapper grandmother of 85 years old. We all had grand-mothering in common!
My mother’s parents, my grandfather and grandmother, John and Mary, were two of the most loving and faith-filled couples I have ever known. At any given time of the day, you’d find them praying for their children, grandchildren and even for future generations. I am one of those grandchildren. Before I was born, they were praying for me. That still comforts me because I’ve seen the fruit of those prayers in my life and in the lives of my children and grandchildren.
This beautiful Grandmothers’ Prayer Group, the prayers of my grandparents and parents, and the sacrifices they made for me in prayer, particularly, came to me with gratitude when I remembered St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, his protégé from 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.” The faithfulness of Timothy’s mother and grandmother was noticed by Paul because he was seeing the fruit of their prayers in Timothy. And that is the faith I was taught and am purposing to pass on to my children and grandchildren.
I was taught relentless faith in the times of trouble from my mother and grandmother. I had first-hand experience of watching them model faith in an unseen God but seen in those mighty women of faith. I have learned that it’s one thing to face our giants; it’s another to stand beside our children as they face their own. I’m overwhelmed at the sheer grit and determined faith I have witnessed in my children, and I know they are modeling that faith to their children.
My children and my grands can count on me to speak often of God’s goodness and mercy. I often think that they’re thinking “There she goes again with her ranting and raving about trusting in Jesus, making Him #1 in all areas of life.” And you’d better believe I’m on purpose as I do so because one of these days they’ll remember what a devoted follower of Jesus looks like – and I hope they remember me when they are training their children how to fight the good fight of faith.
I am stirred up more than ever to be a faith-first, praying mother and grandmother for my children’s and seven grandchildren’s lives. When we pray according to God’s Word, we are in line with God’s will, enabling us to pray with power and wisdom. The praying changes not only the lives of our grandchildren, but us as well.
As crazy as this world is and as topsy-turvy our own worlds might be, instead of wringing our hands in distress, we can pray regularly, intentionally, specifically and trusting our children and grandchildren into God’s faithful care. “He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.” (Psalm 18:30). We can stand in the gap, praying for the spiritual, emotional, and physical protection of our precious children and grandchildren.
So mothers and grandmothers (and dads and granddads), let’s unite, pray on purpose, and because of God’s faithfulness, we can breathe in His peace while we wait for the answers to our prayers.