I’ve done a lot of thinking and reflecting over the last few months as I want to know what my role is as a Nonnie. Naturally I want to spoil my grandchildren with a few little treats. I want to spend time with them, and maybe even do those things with them that I never got around to with my own children. The messy things like art and craft.

But there’s more to parenting and grand parenting than that. It’s not only about the grandchildren but also about our adult kids as well. I want to help and support my kids as they strive to be godly parents.

I have searched through the Scriptures to see what the Bible has to say about the role of grandparent. To be honest, there wasn’t a lot in the way of direct commands… but we know that God’s Word is wisdom and so from my reading I have collated some ways that I intend to be intentional… and grandparent with purpose.

Marriage

I know it’s a controversial issue in the Christian blogosphere but it has never been in our family. I strive to model biblical submission as I subject myself to God and then to John… Our marriage is a living example of the church’s loving submission to her head, Jesus Christ. ~Ephesians 5:24 ~Ephesians 5:25

Just as we carefully guarded the hearts and minds of our children from the sexual immorality, we want to do the same for our grandchildren. We aim to support our adult kids parenting choices but even if they are not the same as ours, we will exercise discernment and self control with our choices of entertainment and speech.

Confession – Apologise

I want to be an example in the area of confessing my sin, apologising, seeking forgiveness and restoration whenever possible. John and I believe that the three most important words in our marriage are not so much “I love you” rather, “I am sorry“. ~Colossians 3:13

Stewardship

Living with integrity, being a positive role model with our time, money and resources is another way I can be a role model to my grandchildren. I want them to see me leaning on God for provision of my needs. I want them to see me being a good example of looking after my own body and health. ~Matthew 6:31-34

Model Seasoned Speech

I want to model the THINK principle for words are very powerful.I want to be an example who speaks kindly to others, one who speaks with godly wisdom, one who speaks words that encourage and edify. ~Ephesians 4:29-31

Tell them the Gospel

Rom. 5:12 I want my grandchildren to know the whole story.I want to share God’s overwhelming grace with them – not just teach them about obedience or adherence to codes and rules. I desire, as much as our adult kids permit me, to impart the Scriptures to the little ones. I want to impart to them the law of God, to show them their need for a Saviour. I want to point them toward Jesus Christ – for He is the only way to be saved. ~Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Model Love

If I love God with my whole heart, mind, soul and strength then it stands to reason that I will also love my neighbour and those in need. I hope and pray that my grandchildren will see me model this love. ~James 1:27

I will be a Chief Story Teller

Oh, the stories I will tell! But we learn through stories. They reach deep into our heart and help us connect with God and with others. Stories join people together with strong cords of history, of culture… they give a sense of belonging. The fibres of that cord are laughter, familiarity, grace, forgiveness, repetition and security. ~Deuteronomy 11:19

Relationship

I want to build a relationship with my grandchildren. Relationships are life’s most vital, most central, often most impacting vehicle for which we learn lessons. When the heart is filled with nurturing and right relationships, abundant life will flow. Christlike behaviour and Christlike attitude will be developed. As well as a relationship with our Father, God uses relationships as a means of grace, in His transforming work in our lives.

I want to be a role model – I guess that much is evident. Just when I thought our hands-on, full-on days of younger children were coming to an end there is nothing further from the truth! Parenting and Grand Parenting are all about being a role model, a living example to those who are watching. We are to model the love and character we desire to see in our children and grandchildren.

Pray, pray and pray some more

This parenting gig is almost designed to have us on our knees, desperate for God, leaning upon Him daily for sustenance, grace and strength. And so I will pray for my grandchildren but I will enthusiastically pray for my adult kids… I pray that they will see the need for His grace and strength, that they will rely upon Him and not upon their own strength and understanding. I pray that they will be led by the Holy Spirit, that they will grow in godly wisdom and knowledge and understanding of the Lord.