How are you passing on the baton of truth to your family?

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived                                                                                  in your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice, now lives in you also” II Timothy 1:5.

If Timothy’s grandmother Lois had not been faithful in passing on her faith to her daughter Eunice and grandson Timothy we would not have the books, I and II Timothy in the Bible today. Lois & Eunice are a real generational example of the importance of passing on the faith to future generations. Lois is our forerunner who modeled grandmothering for us.

Isn’t it interesting that nowhere in the Bible does it say that the church has the primary responsibility to pass on our faith to the next generation? It makes clear that parents and grandparents are the primary conduits to instruct their children and grandchildren about God and his love for them.

A concern for many grandparents is that their children are not passing on the values and faith they taught them. Therefore, grandparents have a crucial role to fill, if faith is to found on earth when Jesus comes back for his own. The demonstration of our love for the Lord and our prayers for our grandchildren are a powerful way to pass on our faith to them.

I think that Eunice had a lot of support from Lois in Timothy’s early years. This month as we celebrate Mother’s Day, let’s pray for the mothers of our grandchildren. They have a great responsibility to parent our grandchildren in these troubled, unstable times we live in today. I often think about and pray for the mothers of my teenaged grandchildren. They are busy with their church activities, the children activities, chauffeuring the children and employment outside the home. You might send them a Mother’s Day card thanking them for all they do for your grandchildren.

In today’s broken world, Satan’s purpose is to destroy the family. It is important that we, as grandparents pray God will give the mothers and fathers of our dear grandchildren wisdom, time management, and godly wisdom in their monumental task of guiding our grandchildren in the ways of the Lord.

As grandparents, let’s ask God how he wants us to connect and nurture those precious grandchildren and model God’s love to them. Will they remember your monetary gifts or that you were their prayer warrior?

Prayer:

Lord, show me how you want me to pass the baton of truth to my grandchildren. Give me the wisdom to know how to connect and relate to them. Show me how to model a godly lifestyle in an ungodly culture. In Jesus name.

By Lillian Penner, Co-Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network, lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net.

Special note: In the book Grandparenting With a Purpose, I give several suggestions of how Grandparents can connect with their grandchildren. (The book is available at https://www.grandparentingwithapurpose.comat a discounted price of $10.50.