A Story of Two Grandmothers having Lunch

AJudy and Karen were having lunch on the patio of a seafood restaurant on a beautiful summer day on the California coast. They had been longtime friends and were happy to have the opportunity to spend some together after not seeing each other for five years.

As grandmothers like to do, they shared pictures and shared stories of their precious grandchildren.

Karen had recently returned from helping her daughter in upstate New York with the arrival of her fourth child. She shared how difficult it was for her with her youngest daughter and family living so far away.  Her oldest daughter lives nearby with her two sons. She saw them more often, but now they were both in school, and they didn’t come by as often.

Judy misses her granddaughter in Colorado and gets to see her only once or twice a year.  She shared her concern for her sixteen-year-old granddaughter Susan. Her parents divorced seven years ago. They have both remarried, so she spends most of her time with me. My son works long hours, and her mother is addicted to drugs. I am single, working long hours and exhausted, finding it hard raising a teenager.

Karen says, “I admire you for stepping in and giving her some stability and giving her some Christian upbringing even though it is difficult for you”.

Judy asked, “Did you know statistics show one-third of all grandparents are raising their grandchildren? Often the parents of the grandchildren have addictions or other major problems. I get discouraged at times, living amid a cultural war here in America. Our precious grandchildren are growing up in a troubled post-Christian society. Today, authority is questioned and absolute denied. Yet they are the future generation in America. Isn’t it hard to see our little ones growing up in such an environment?”

Karen responded with, “as grandparents we have an awesome responsibility to pray for them and model a godly lifestyle.  We can defeat the evil one by standing in the gap for our grandchildren with our prayers.  Esther stood in the gap for her people, the Israelites when they were ordered to be destroyed. Recently I purchased the book. Grandparenting with a Purpose: It shares effective tools to help grandparents pray intentionally for their grandchildren. It has three sections. The first section is about how our grandchildren need our prayers. The second section is about a Pictorial Prayer Journal with a profile sheet where you place a picture and information about your grandchild. The third section has practical helps including Scriptures to pray for specific needs like anger, confidence, fear, anxiety plus prayer suggestions for the different life stage as, toddlers, school-age, teenagers, and young adults’.

By the way, the author is a friend of mine and she recently told me the book is being revised and expanded with study guides for each chapter for small group discussions. She said there is a chapter titled, “Is your grandparenting painful or a blessing? It sounds like you are having some painful grandparenting.” The book will be ready for purchase on November 1 on the author’s website.  www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com

Judy responded, “It would be a good book for me to read, I need some helpful ideas and encouragement, I’ll order it on the website after November 1. It would also make a lovely gift for a new grandmother. Many of my friends are becoming grandmothers, and we have Grandma Showers for them. Have you heard of Grandma’s Baby showers?”

Karen responded, “No, I haven’t” Terri asked, “What kind of gifts do you give?” Karen responded, “Books, toys, picture frames, or whatever grandmas should have at their house.” Terri said, “I wish I were living there; I could have used some of those things.”

Karen responded, “I am so happy we have had this time together today, you have been such an encouragement to me. I am going to pray God will bless you and provide strength to continue on your grandparenting journey. I am sure it’s difficult for you raising your granddaughter, but it’s wonderful you have a spiritual influence in her life; we don’t walk our journey alone. God has promised He will always be there for us.” 

Judy smiled and thanked Karen for her encouragement and prayer support. She shared, “how she remembered her grandmother praying for her when she would spend the night with her grandmother as a young girl”.

Karen remarked, “Grandparents have an awesome responsibility to leave a spiritual influence in the lives of their grandchildren. For a reflection to appear on a lake, the sun must shine. Let’s pray for each other to allow the SON of God to shine on our lives to reflect His love, joy, and peace to our grandchildren.”

Two hours later, they realized the restaurant was almost empty. Judy and Karen were having such a good time sharing, catching up, and enjoying their delicious lunch. After a hug, they parted but felt spiritually blessed as they left each other and promised to pray for each other and keep in touch.

For more information about the “Revised and Expanded – Gramndparenrting with a Purpose” book go www.grandparentingwithapurpose.com 

Written by Lillian Penner, Co-Prayer director for Christian Grandparenting Network, pennerlp@gmail.com