Every child is a gift from God, and you might remember very well how it felt to hold your children for the first time. The best part is that we get more chances to be “parents” in this life. First of all, we are the parents of the children we bring into this world, and then we are the grandparents of their children.
Most of us try to wait patiently for the day we become grandparents, and when it happens, it is like we entered a new phase of our lives. But besides the new things you learn on this journey, this is also a great opportunity to grow closer to God and make his word heard.
You are a compass for your grandkids, and as a Christian grandparent, you want to help them learn all the good teachings that will make them good and moral people. This is your mission, and we want to tell you more about some God-approved habits that will make you a better grandparent.
Be ready to answer their questions
Kids are curious by nature, and this makes them ask some of the most thought-provoking or tricky questions. For us as adults, the questions might have simple answers, but you have to adapt the answers in a way that makes sense for them while keeping the message true.
This might sound simple in theory, but when you are face to face with a curious kid, you will see that this can be a rather challenging task. Children just want to make sense of the world around them, and you as a grandparent are there to be their best spiritual guide.
Next time you sit at the table and you start playing before the meal, make sure you have the Bible with you. This will help you give your grandkids a biblical answer if they have any questions.
Your actions sometimes speak louder than words, so you should also be careful about this. You want your grandkids to be courageous and live a beautiful life, and you are the one who can lead them on the right path.
Tell them stories
If there is one thing all children love, it is stories! This is why children’s books are a thing. Generally, storytelling is the main trick adults use to share history, morality, and entertainment with kids. And the approach works incredibly well.
There is also solid research that shows us that humans are not the best at remembering logical facts. On the other hand, stories are the best vehicle to communicate ideas, and this is especially true for children.
You, as a grandparent, can use stories to teach the kids moral lessons or to tell them more about the family history. Also, the lessons of God can also be taught using this method. Jesus himself used to tell people fables and stories so you can get inspired by Him and keep the tradition alive.
When you pick your tales with care, whether to tell or read, we tap into an effective and entertaining tool for conveying what matters most.
Natural teaching opportunities are the best
When you want to learn something new, the best way to do it is to learn organically, right? If this is true for you, then you can be sure that this is also true for your grandkids. We as human beings learn best from our own experience, and if you want to teach your grandkids the best lessons from God, you can apply this principle.
As we move through our days, there are a lot of great opportunities for learning. Unscripted lessons, things we can see in our everyday lives, are there so we can take something and become better people in the end.
For example, one of our readers told us that their grandma taught them to pray each time they hear an ambulance because it means someone needs help. They said that regardless of who that person is and that they don’t know them personally, they still need help and that little prayer is a sign of compassion. To this day our reader still says a little prayer in their mind every time they hear an ambulance.
Give them unconditional love
It is clear that every kid needs unconditional love and support, and you, as a good Christian grandparent, should be there for your grandkids and support them as much as possible. Hopefully, this is a very important role you can take because God is there to help you.
Next time your grandkid is trying something new, be the voice that softly tells them, “You can do it!” Maybe you feel like this won’t make such a big difference, but in reality, it really does, and they will remember your words.
My grandma was of French descent; she was an immigrant, and each time she tried to help me with my lessons, she never forgot to tell me how smart I was. Initially, I didn’t believe her, but she kept saying to me that I am really good with my words and that she is unable to spell big words like me.
In the end, time showed me that she was actually right. I was good with my words, and this kept impacting my life every day. If you want to tell your grandkids meaningful words, you need to make sure your words are always based on substantive truth.
Adapt to their world
We live in different times compared to what we are used to, and one of the best virtues we can have is adaptability. Yes, times changed, but we should also change with them. Well, not change completely but adapt our habits to what is happening right now in the world. This might sound like an impossible challenge for some, but practice is what will make it perfect.
One of the grandmas in our group was very mad that her granddaughter was always playing games on her phone. All the time the little girl is on the phone, and she doesn’t know what to do about it.
At some point, the grandma told the granddaughter that if she didn’t put the phone down while they were together, she would take her home from the park. In the end, the scenario really happened, and as you would expect, the little girl was devastated. But did the grandmother act the right way?
She was trying to help the little girl be closer to her, and in the end, she probably harmed their relationship even more. She tried to bring the granddaughter into the “grandma world,” and this didn’t turn out how she expected.
Adapting to the world of children today is hard, and it gets harder as they age, but you should still try. If they are doing something you don’t understand, you can ask them more about that. Ask them to explain to you more about their world, and this will give you the chance to tell them more about your world.
If you want to help your grandkids learn more about God and the world around us this might help: The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible (The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible Library)
You should also read more about: 12 Key Roles of a Christian Wife You Can’t Ignore
