While National Grandparents Day, the Sunday following Labor Day, was founded by Jacob Reingold and Marian McQuade in 1973, the holiday has escaped the grasp of most people—so let’s talk about it!
The purpose of the day is for older adults to share wisdom, varying perspectives, and values with young people—starting with their grandchildren—on this day and beyond.
In our current culture, just as the Personhood of the preborn is being denied, the God-given life of our elderly population is being devalued and faces the real potential of experiencing the same vulnerability as the preborn.
So, how can we as Christ followers honor grandparents all the time, not just on Grandparents Day? We can celebrate and support the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren while acknowledging the joys, triumphs, challenges, and difficulties of this multi-dimensional relationship.
The Bible has a lot to say about grandparents and their grandchildren. In fact, over 100 Bible verses exclaim God’s glory about this sweet relationship. And why not?
“One generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4
“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.” Psalm 103:17
A Growing Trend: Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren
Did you know that according to a report from AARP Public Policy Institute, approximately 2.7 million grandparents in the United States are raising their grandchildren—and this number is on the rise? There is a myriad of reasons for this growing trend, including parental neglect, abuse, abandonment, addiction, mental health issues, incarceration, and the list goes on.
Thankfully, for every child that is in the foster care system, there are about 25 children being raised by grandparents. Families raising a grandchild save the taxpayers over $6 billion each year by keeping children out of the foster care system.
The biggest challenge is a financial dynamic—approximately 21% of grandparents who are taking care of their grandchildren are living below the poverty line. In addition to raising their grandchild, they can be saddled with persistent family problems because of missing parents, legal hurdles, and brokenness.
Across the United States, more than 13 million children are living in homes with their grandparents who are the sole parental influence and may have no one to turn to for day-to-day emotional support. How can the community come alongside a grandparent raising a grandchild? Here are a few suggestions: Commit to praying for all families with grandparents raising grandchildren, share any resources that might be helpful to the grandparent(s), start a prayer group for grandparents, drop off a meal periodically and offer childcare, if needed.
Leaving a Legacy of Faith
In a culture that often underappreciates the wisdom of age, grandparents have a tremendous opportunity to leave a legacy of faith to grandchildren by:
Praying. Ask the Lord to guide, direct and order our steps as we raise or interact with our grandchildren and impact their parents.
Extending your faith. Use every opportunity, especially in difficult family situations, to demonstrate that we are leaning on the Lord and trusting in His guidance, strength, and wisdom in all circumstances.
Sharing insightful, helpful information about the family. Let the grandchildren know about their legacy, especially about faith in Christ alone; courage to trust the Lord to provide everything they need in life and the strength to serve Him and others in a way that brings Him glory; persistence in prayer and Bible study with a tender heart which yields to the Lord as He makes them more like Christ; humility in acknowledging that they can do nothing apart from Christ; selflessness in having a loving heart towards others; and perseverance through any trial being thankful in all circumstances (to name a few).
Celebrating traditions and milestones. Leverage opportunities to celebrate birthdays, firsts, accomplishments, and holidays—where you can focus on planting seeds of faith—such as at Christmas and Easter.
Leveraging opportunities to talk about God’s power. Talking about and experiencing God’s creation with your grandchildren can be teaching moments about God’s power. Look at the moon together, count the stars, walk through a garden and pick flowers. These moments don’t cost anything except time.
Keeping in close touch with your grandchildren. Write letters, send cards, call and text. Share Bible verses. Figure out the best way to reach them and go for it!
Even under difficult circumstances, caring for a grandchild is often one of the most fulfilling and important relationships in a grandparent’s life. Handing down a legacy of faith is one of the most important aspects of your time together, and yet it can be the most difficult.
Wisdom From a Couple of Grandparents
- “My advice to future grandparents is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in everything you do.”
- “Because of my strong faith, I pray for my two grandchildren daily and for the salvation of their father—who is not a believer. As a grandmother, I want to plant seeds of faith in their hearts. I look to the Holy Spirit to give me the wisdom needed to minister to them.”
This Grandparents Day and beyond, let’s celebrate the joys and pray about the pains of being a grandparent—with God as the source of all support now and in the days to come.
Sheryl Sellaway
Righteous PR
Ministry Partner