Dear Grandchild
Dear Grandchild,
I love you. Your grandmother (Nanny) loves you. We love your dad, our dear son, and your mom, our wonderful daughter-in-law. You are incredibly special to us. From the time you came into the world, a tiny bundle, a precious gift from God, you have had a unique place in our hearts.
I loved playing with you when you were small. From hiding in the closet, turning off the light, and then quickly back on, to showing you “Pawpaw’s clothes,” and “Nanny’s clothes,” and our shoes, to getting down Nanny’s thimbles, putting them on our fingers, and giving them names, to going outside for walks, and putting you up in a tree in our yard, we had fun!
I bounced you on my knee to the tune of “Ride a little horsey down to town,” and I played the Goomer game that I made up over 30 or 40 years ago and played with your dads. I have played Memory (and lost) to some of you. I’ve watched cartoons and various kids’ movies with others, which I confess I enjoy.
Because of living distances apart, we haven’t gotten to spend as much time with the younger ones, but we love all of you and are always glad when we get to see you.
From the time our oldest grandchild was born, followed closely six months later by the next grandchild, we have loved you with a love that is almost aching; it feels so good that it hurts. It is anticipating love, too, and we speculate on what you may become, and pray, above all, that God will be first in your heart, and that your life will give Him glory.
We pray for you guys every day. We think of you often. Our time spent with you, from 30 minutes to an entire day, to an overnight stay to enjoy Nanny’s wonderful cooking, are times we treasure.
Before I close, I want to give you some advice, along with the assurance that I will always pray for you, and that I will always be here for you as long as I live.
1. Own your faith. Most of you have already trusted Jesus as your Savior. We’re praying the younger ones will do that when you feel God is telling you it’s time. You have grown up in a Christian home, mentored and taught by parents who follow Christ. You’ve been taken to church every week, heard the Bible read in your home, and heard your parents and other Christians pray. As you grow older, it’s important that you follow Jesus because you want to, and not just because your parents are believers. Read the Bible for yourself. Study it. Read Christian books. Learn more about what you believe and why you believe it. God doesn’t have grandchildren; only children. Each of us has to choose for himself or herself to follow the Lord.
2. Choose your friends wisely. Proverbs 1:10 warns us about following others to do wrong. Be sure you choose your friends carefully. Christian friends are one of life’s greatest treasures. Bad friends will influence you to do wrong; good friends, Christian friends will hold you accountable to do right and set a good example for you. “Iron sharpens iron.” (Proverbs 27:17)
3. Don’t make hasty or emotionally charged decisions. Life is tough at times. Decisions have to be made. Temptations come. We feel pulled in many directions. Be sure that you don’t make decisions primarily on an emotional basis, just because you “feel” a certain way. Think about it. Does it line up with the Bible? What do your parents think? What do Christian friends and influencers say?
We are so proud to be your grandparents! And even though we will not always be here, as long as we are able we’re here to love you and do everything we can to help you.
Love, Pawpaw (and Nanny)
- From Everlasting to Everlasting - July 1, 2024
- Christian Attitudes and Actions in a Non-Christian World - November 30, 2023
- The Ninety and Nine - September 22, 2023
Discover more from Rambling Ever On
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I hope I never take for granted how blessed my kids are to have such wonderful grandparents. Thanks for writing this, Dad.
Reading this as a family tonight.