During the first national observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on January 20, 1986, then-President Ronald Reagan stated that it was a “time for rejoicing and reflecting.”

In his official Proclamation 5431, he wrote further:

“We rejoice because, in his short life, Dr. King, by his preaching, his example, and his leadership, helped to move us closer to the ideals on which America was founded. We reflect on his words and his works. Dr. King was truly a prophetic voice that reached out over the chasms of hostility, prejudice, ignorance, and fear to touch the conscience of America. He challenged us to make real the promise of America as a land of freedom, equality, opportunity, and brotherhood.”

President Reagan quoted Dr. King regarding what motivated him: “Our actions must be guided by the deepest principles of our Christian faith. Love must be our regulating ideal. Otherwise, our protest will end up as a meaningless drama on the stage of history … shrouded with ugly garments of shame.”

Also included in the President’s proclamation was Dr. King’s most famous quote:  “I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a Nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character… This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning, ‘My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.”

I remember how special that day felt in the community where we lived. My wife and I had moved across the country eight years earlier to live and minister in Jackson, Mississippi.

We had moved into a neighborhood of extreme need, where our three children were born, and where we worshipped in a racially diverse and reconciled congregation. We were actively engaged in Christian community development efforts, attempting to flesh out the Good News of God’s love to hurting neighbors in a decaying community.

We had also grown to appreciate the lyrics of a song we had never heard before: Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson. Affectionately known as the “Black National Anthem,” the words of the first and last stanzas seemed to echo the speech delivered by Dr. King.

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory won.

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee.
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.

Observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day always brings back a flood of memories. One memory, in particular, continues to profoundly impact me decades later.

The sun shined brightly, but the wind was brisk, and the temperatures crisp … as they often are in the month of January in rural Mississippi. My wife and I had left southern California two weeks earlier, stopped briefly in Denver to pick up our meager belongings, and then drove to our new home in the Deep South. The year was 1978.

Recently graduated from seminary, commissioned by our church to serve the “rural poor,” we arrived wide-eyed and hopeful of being used by God in some strategic way. We eagerly (naively?) embraced our new roles, wanting to experience everything possible within the shortest amount of time… not wanting to miss anything that might help us make a difference in our new community filled with heart-breaking needs.

So we toured a pre-school, housed in a small church, located in a poor community, stuck between railroad tracks and the flood-prone Sellers Creek. It was there that God surprised me as I stumbled upon a bit of “Mississippi wisdom.”

Three brief bullet points, hand-printed on faded construction paper, tacked to a crumbling bulletin board, hung on the wall of a narrow hallway:

• Speak to basic human need.
• Use terms that people understand.
• Focus sharply on Jesus Christ.

I never learned who wrote them or fixed them to the wall. But they have shaped every aspect of my life and ministry ever since, including how I approach grandparenting.

“Intentional Christian Grandparenting” may be a new phrase, but it’s truly an ancient concept, grounded in God’s Word, and His design for how families should function. Dr. King acknowledged that we all stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.

Intentional Christian Grandparents recognize that it will be our shoulders upon which our grandchildren and their grandchildren will one day stand as well. That trilogy of “Mississippi wisdom” is worthy of reflection as we observe this national holiday.

Editor’s Note: Reflect on your words and deeds as they speak loud and clear about race and race relations to your grandchildren. What is God telling you?

“The B.I.B.L.E., yes that’s the book for me…” I don’t know about you, but that is one of my main prayers for my grandchildren. I want the Bible to be a priority in their lives. I want them to stand on the truths of Scripture no matter what may come. I also desire to help them in this endeavor.

This month, in our 2025 Grandparenting Planner, one of the suggestions is to choose a devotion or Bible study book for your children and grandchildren. The hope and prayer is that studying together will spark faith conversations with your family this year.

Think about how to share the Bible in ways that are educational but also fun, enjoyable, and age-appropriate. Many translations of the Bible are available as well as devotionals too numerous to count. So how do you choose?

Below you will find some helpful principles to keep in mind plus a list of ideas:

1. Biblical Accuracy Is Essential.

Whether you are reading from a children’s picture Bible or storybook or studying a theological topic with the oldest grandchild, priority one is choosing a biblically accurate and sound resource.

Be alert for partial truths or outright falsehoods. Go to trusted sources and read reviews. Ask your pastoral leadership and friends for ideas as well. Even better, go through it first and examine it yourself.

2. The Focus is on God/Jesus.

Legacy Coalition exists so that our grandchildren and their grandchildren follow Christ. As grandparents, that is our heart as well.

Look at resources with a discerning eye and heart – will it help your grandchild come to know, love, and serve Christ more? See if the book or devotional consistently points them to Jesus and their relationship with Him.

One great children’s book is My Wish of All Wishes by Larry Fowler. It shares our heart’s desire that we want our grandchildren in heaven with us!

3. It Draws the Grandchild In.

Search for books and devotionals that will be of interest to your grandchildren. Depending on their age, look for bright, colorful graphics as well as rich content. Is the topic something they would like to pursue?

My grandchildren love animals. When they were young, we used several devotionals that were about God’s amazing creation of unique animals.  We also read lots of books to them. Some of our grandchildren’s favorites were: Forever Falls by Glen Keane (part of the Adam Raccoon series) and Halfway Herbert by Francis Chan (he has several great books for kids). Additional ideas are listed at the end of this post.

As my grandchildren got older, we sought to challenge them and make them think deeper. We read The Chronicles of Narnia books and watched the videos. This led to great conversations and correlations with the Biblical account. We studied more of C.S. Lewis’s books like Mere Christianity with the high school and college-bound grandchildren.

We also discussed cultural issues and the response as Christians to help equip them for conversation with peers and others. We used A Student’s Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle.

4. It Moves Them From Reading to Studying.

As your grandchildren mature and grow, transition from just reading to actually studying the Word together. Choose a devotional or a passage of Scripture you want to study. You can work on it together or separately. If done separately, get together in person or by Marco Polo and share insights gleaned. The bonus is you will also be getting to know them better as they get to know God better.

You can help equip your grandkids with a lifelong study skill that will serve them well. Share how to use a study Bible, concordance, dictionary, and other resources. Consider purchasing these for them or showing them how to use an online resource like Blue Letter Bible app. One of our older teens asked for a study Bible for Christmas this year, and we researched to choose the best fit for him.

These special times of sharing the Bible together can have a tremendous influence on your grandchild’s life as well as your relationship with them. The potential to impact their lives here on Earth is enough of a reason to share God’s Word, but think longer term to eternity. We must fulfill our multigenerational responsibility to teach.

More Resource Ideas to Share

• Bibles – Choose age-appropriate versions, anywhere from a picture Bible to a study Bible.
• Devotionals – These exist for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, pre-readers, new readers, and all the way up to adults. Use Google searches to find lots of choices.
• Tiny Theologians has great resources for the youngest to age 14.
• Books to read to younger grandkids:
  • I Love My Bible by Debby Anderson
  
  
  • The Lord’s Prayer for Little Ones by Debby Anderson
  
  
  • The Ten Commandments for Little Ones by Debby Anderson
  
  
  • His Grace is Enough by Melissa Kruger
  
  
  • Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know by Melissa Kruger
  
  
  • Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt
  
  
  • God’s Wisdom for Little Boys by Jim & Elizabeth George
  
  
  • God’s Wisdom for Little Girls by Elizabeth George
  
  
  • The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop
• Not Consumed has studies on various topics like siblings and the power of words.
• Books to read and discuss together:
  • Lies Girls Believe by Dannah Gresh
  
  
  • True Girl Bible studies by Dannah Gresh
  
  
  • How Great is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions About God and Science  by Louie Giglio, Tama Fortner
  
  
  • Tweens Devotions by Kay Arthur
  
  
  • Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth
  
  
  • The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New by Marty Machowski
  
  
  • Passion and Purity by Elizabeth Elliot
  
  
  • Books by R.C. Sproul
• Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt – Includes listings of good books by age
• Generous Kids Book Bundle – Teaching series of books on Christian values

^[1] Article from Crosswalk – https://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/best-bible-study-recommendations-for-kids-of-each-age-group.html

As we start off another new year, may we keep a close watch on how we are growing in Christ. It’s easier to watch what our adult children or grandchildren are doing, but Deuteronomy 4:9a tells us that we must first watch ourselves!

Larry Fowler, the founder of Legacy Coalition, shares that this is part of our multigenerational responsibility as Christian grandparents.

Our words, actions, and attitudes will convey what we believe. Little and big grandchildren alike are observing and recording what they see, hear, and feel. May we stay true to what is right for the sake of our own salvation as well as those watchful eyes and ears around us. [1 Timothy 4:16]

Below is a short devotional to encourage and help you start this new year that is full of promise. Let’s look at 1 Timothy 4:16 in the context of watching ourselves. It is a great principle to build godly influence as you connect relationally with your grandchildren.

Observation

The context of this verse is Paul’s admonition to Timothy about his private life and public ministry. It is very important to keep watch on both. It is a huge responsibility. Paul encourages Timothy to examine his own life. 

Take time to read this verse in several translations. This is a great way to understand it better.

Interpretation

God alone is The One who saves, yet you can be God’s instrument to bring about the salvation of your grandchildren.

Your life speaks loudly to your grandchildren – what is it saying? They are looking to you both in your private life as well as your public one. Are you the same at home and in the community? Is your life sending a message that God is good and in control, that He is faithful and can be trusted? Is it leading your grandchildren toward or away from Christ?

Remember that while salvation occurs in the moment of belief, our spiritual life is a process of being conformed to the likeness of Christ. Scripture calls us to persevere in our faith, in other words, to continue to live according to sound doctrine. The spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and worship will help you persevere in your walk. 

Be cautious not to fall into false teachings. In today’s culture, false teaching abounds, and your grandchildren need to know what is true and right. As you stay true to God’s Word, God may allow you the opportunity to rescue your grandchildren from the doctrinal errors that surround them. Be ready and able to share why you believe in the truth of the Bible.

Application

1. Keep a close watch on yourself.

Take some time to examine yourself. Assess where you are spiritually and where you hope to grow and go this year. Is your life built on knowing, teaching, and practicing God’s Word?

How can you be on constant guard against falling into sin?

What are those areas that cause you the biggest problem? 

What safeguards can you put into place?

How can you guard yourself against false teachings?

2. Continue learning about God through the teaching of His Word.

Check what you believe and are teaching against what God’s Word says. Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Word. This is the greatest safeguard against false teaching – know what the Bible says.

What scriptures are you going to study this year or memorize?

How are you going to grow spiritually this year? Any goals?

How will you share what God teaches you this year with your grandchildren?

3. Don’t quit!

One of the ways we look at scripture with our grandkids is to ponder the passage using the above method of observing the text, interpreting it, and then applying it personally. Next, we have them pray the scripture by using the words in the passage. Those who like to draw, also picture it in their journals.

Depending on the age of your grandchildren, this process of ponder, pray, and picture may work for you. Whether you are reading a children’s Bible to the littles or discussing doctrine with the oldest, find a way to share God’s Word together this year.

First and most importantly, is that you are studying and growing in the WORD. From your overflow, you will live out the Word for them to see, hear, and feel.

Our prayer for you:

Lord, may you keep a close watch on how the grandparents live and teach. May they stay true to what is right for the sake of their own salvation as well as the salvation of their families. May they watch closely the example they are leaving. Amen.

Advent is a season of pausing, pondering, and preparing to celebrate the arrival of the Christ Child. It is a time of wonder and expectation. The eyes of a small child enamored and mesmerized by lights and shining packages quickly remind us of this fact.

Amidst all the tantalizing smells, sights, and sounds, let us be deliberate in pointing our grandchildren to Emmanuel–God with us. May these practical ideas be a jumpstart for you.

1. Share the Story

There are so many ways to accomplish this. A quick perusal of Pinterest will supply more ideas than you can use.

Two of my favorites ways are Jesse Tree and Story Stones. Using visuals and symbols is especially important when your grandchildren are young. Scripture is read as each visual is focused on.

An advent wreath is also great for incorporating symbols and Scripture readings. The four purple candles represent the prophets, Bethlehem, shepherds, and angels. They correspond to hope, faith, joy, and peace. The white candle lit on Christmas morning is the Christ candle. He is the light of the world. There are various readings to do with each candle. Pick one that is appropriate for the age of your grandchildren. We also add the appropriate nativity pieces as each portion is read. For instance, when angels are spoken of, we add the angels to the advent wreath.

Whichever method you choose to share the story, be sure to use your Bible.

2. Worship

Christmas music is so beautiful and sets the stage for a worshipful heart. We have it playing in the background throughout every day.

Consider choosing a song to learn about its history as well as its lyrics. Share what you learn with your grandchildren.

Maybe choose a song from your ethnic heritage. If you have musicians within your family, play and sing it together. Maybe you could even write your own song.

3. Family Activity

The goal is to spend time together, creating memories and building stronger relationships.

One of my family’s favorites is building a puzzle – each year a more complicated one is chosen in line with the grandchildren’s ages. We enjoy watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate too.

Another favorite is finding a way to serve the community together. Whether it is purchasing items for an at-need family or delivering cookies to the first responders; we want to show love in a tangible way.

You can also play games together. Some of our favorites are Christmas Scattergories, Pictionary, charades, and minute-it-to-win-it games.

During these fun and laughter-filled times, we intentionally point to how God was faithful through the past year. God has provided and blessed in so many ways. We encourage all to share.

4. Shower for Baby Jesus

Consider contacting your area charities or crisis pregnancy centers to see what critical items are needed. It is a joy to gather items that a new baby would need and then deliver them to the center. Conversations with your grandchildren can center around Jesus coming as a baby.

5. Love Jar

Write on slips of paper the reason you love each member of the family. Try to be specific and include several for every member. Place the slips in a jar or candy dish on the table. At Christmas, take a slip out and read it. Continue for the upcoming meals until all the slips have been read.

Another idea is to start in January, writing down all the ways God has blessed your family. Then next Christmas you would read one each day and rejoice anew at how God has been faithful.

6. Send Greetings

Be sure to send greetings to each family. Marco Polo, Zoom, or other apps are excellent ways to stay connected, especially with those who live at a distance.

You could also write a note or letter to each grandchild telling them how you will be praying for them this next year. Think about what character trait you have noticed needs some extra effort and what spiritual gifts seem to be surfacing. Then construct your prayer around those things, always listening to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

7. Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunts are especially fun for the younger grandchildren. You could write Luke 2 on slips of paper, breaking it up into portions. These slips of paper can be hidden around for them to find. When they are found, encourage your grandchildren to put them in order. Then read the passage from the Bible.

If the grandchildren are very young, hiding items that are found in the Luke account is a good option. Once all the hidden items are found, read the Luke account from a children’s Bible.

8. Honor Your Heritage

Share about the customs and food from where your ancestors came. Look online or find books about how Christmas is celebrated in other countries. It has been so fun to learn how Christmas is celebrated across the world. You may even want to learn how to say Merry Christmas in your family’s native language.

Teach your grandchildren about where they came from; it bridges the past with the present while also giving a sense of security, safety, and belonging.

Making recipes from your ‘home’ country is also fun. Be sure to tell your family stories making connections to how your grandparents celebrated Christmas.

9. Dinner by Starlight (Candles)

Eating dinner by candlelight is a special way to set apart this season. Candles set a tone of contemplation and quiet.

For younger grandchildren, you could make a meal with the food items cut into star shapes. The conversation could center around what part stars played in the Christmas story. One example is the shepherds keeping watch over the sheep at night. Another is the wise men followed the star.

10. Attend Grandchildren’s Events

Show your support and love by going to any event that you can. Most schools and churches have events during this time of the year. Cheer them on.

11. Read a Favorite Christmas Book

Share with your grandchildren some of your favorite Christmas books. The Gift of the Magi is one of my favorites. Another tradition is to read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve just before the grandchildren go to bed.

Ask your grandchildren about their favorite book and read it to them during this season.

12. Gift Making

One of our favorite activities is helping the grandchildren make gifts for their parents and siblings. They come individually to Grandad or me with their ideas. Depending on the idea, Grandad or I will help them make their gift. It is a double blessing as we get to spend concentrated time with them while also teaching them a skill.

In past years, Grandad has done woodworking, painting, and building with them. I have done crafts, photography, and cooking.

Final Idea

This year may you focus more on giving your presence and less on presents. May you purpose in your heart to find ways to be more present in your grandchildren’s lives this next year.

Be creative if your grandchildren live at a distance or other barriers or obstacles make it difficult. Remember even if you cannot talk to your grandchildren, you can always talk to God about your grandchildren. Go to Him, rest in His presence, relish His promises, and rely on His faithfulness!

Let’s remember Deuteronomy 4:9 “Make them known to your children and your children’s children” and Psalm 16:6 “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

Do not forget during this busy season to stop, rest, and share your God stories with your grandchildren. Help them come to believe, adore, and celebrate the Christ Child.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord continue to look upon you with favor and give you peace. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

Rick is a grandfather who prays this prayer of blessing over his grandchildren whenever he has the opportunity. He places his hands on their heads and uses the same words each time. His grandchildren know that they are blessed!

Did you know that your grandchildren want your blessing? They really do. You don’t have to say a prayer over your grandchildren when you bless them (although that’s not a bad idea!).

If you really want to bless your family, follow these five easy-to-remember steps:

B – Be There for Them. Children spell love T-I-M-E, so give your grandkids plenty of it. Learn how to create enough margin in your life to be present in their lives regularly and consistently.

L – Listen to Them. Remember that listening is the language of love. When we give children (or teens) our attention, listening with both ears, we give them a blessing that no one else can give.

E – Encourage Them. Bless your grandchildren with affirmation. Be generous with praise and “catch them in the act of doing something good.” Children thrive when they know that their parents or grandparents are crazy about them.

S – Speak the Truth in Love. Teach your grandchildren what they need to know. Share your life with them as well as God’s Word. Tell them your stories. Kids need to know that you care about them enough to give them the guidance and direction they need. If they don’t get it from you, they’ll get it from somewhere else. Remember that the first three (B-L-E) win you the opportunity to be heard.

S – Support Them with Grace and Forgiveness. Be the kind of grandparent that Jesus described in His story of the lost (prodigal) son. Your grandchildren will undoubtedly disappoint you and make mistakes along the way. Bless them with grace and forgiveness.

In his short story “The Capitol of the World,” Ernest Hemingway tells the story of a Spanish father and his teenage son. The relationship between this father and son became strained and eventually shattered. When the rebellious son—whose name was Paco—a common Spanish name—ran away from home, his father began a long and arduous search to find him. As a last resort, the exhausted father placed an ad in a Madrid newspaper, hoping that his son would see the ad and respond to it. The ad read,

Dear Paco, please meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. Love, Papa.

As Hemingway tells the story, the next day at noon, in front of the newspaper office, there were 800 Pacos, all seeking forgiveness from their fathers. How do you want to be a blessing to your grandchildren this week? There are as many ways to do it as there are Pacos in Spain.

Editor’s Note: Do you know about the National Blessing Day in November? This year, it’s on November 24th. Founded in 2023 by two national ministries, StrongFamilies and Legacy Minded Men, the National Blessing Day^TM exists to help each of us take a powerful and practical step to heal a generation – and a nation – desperate for authentic love and acceptance. By giving someone we love our blessing, we can meet a deep, critical need that each of us has: The need to be seen, valued, and authentically loved by someone else.

The Blessing isn’t a formula or something that can only be done once a year. Every day, you can use one or all 5 elements of the Blessing to impact a life. However, to bring a focus to our need to bless, one day a year, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, they ask churches, parents, individuals, leaders, and every believer to choose at least ONE PERSON to bless. By following the Biblical steps of the Blessing, you can truly change a life – and give someone the gift of your, and the Lord’s authentic love and acceptance. Find more information here!

When I think about blending, I envision a bunch of yummy ingredients, tumbling into a blender easily and mixing slowly into a perfectly balanced drink that is appropriately called a “smoothie”. It’s not lumpy, bumpy, or hard to swallow. Instead, it’s experienced as a tasty concoction that bathes your throat with a cool, smooth, and refreshing sensation.

This is very different from the blending that many families experience when they attempt to join two existing families together, usually after the death of a parent or a divorce.

Blending Takes Work 

For obvious reasons, the potential for conflict and strained relationships is very high when two families blend into a new one. Relationships that have been developing for a long time are now required to exist alongside new ones with people who are supposed to be a part of the closest relationships we often experience- those with family members.

However, because both families bring histories of traditions, cultural practices, and relational styles that often do not match one another, it requires them to blend with the intention of working together to compromise on their traditions and create new ones.

Usually, the new parents are committed to making things work, but that’s a lot to expect of children who may not be as excited about the idea of blending as their parent and the new spouse. Sometimes blending is also very messy or even traumatic for children.

For example, one of my friends in high school moved into a home with her father and his new wife, only to find out that her new stepmother’s son was a boy who had bullied her all through school. So now, she was supposed to feel comfortable sitting at the dinner table with him and sleeping in the bedroom next to him each night. Talk about awkward and uncomfortable!

Grandparents, you can be a wooden spoon, helping your younger family members blend well. 

Be a Sounding Board

It starts with being a sounding board for children and grandchildren who are anticipating the blending, taking time to hear their worries, fears, and concerns. Encourage them to feel free to hold on to parts of their family history that are particularly important to them, while being willing to give up or modify some parts and open to learning new traditions from the other family. 

Also, be aware of a very common relationship issue that often occurs in blended families. Children may seem to love a potential new stepparent before their parent marries a new spouse but may fully reject and make life miserable for the new parent once the marriage is final.

This is because children often cling to the fantasy that their biological or adoptive parents will get back together if given the chance. Additionally, they desire to hold the connection to a deceased parent, without ever having that connection interrupted by someone else. They therefore see their mother’s or father’s new spouse as the person who ruined those fantasies. They try to figure out how to break their parent and stepparent up.

Knowing that this is common can help you, as a grandparent, to support your child if your grandchildren are not accepting their new spouse or if your child is being rejected by his or her new stepchildren. Encourage the parent to empathize with how difficult blending can be for children. Encourage them to try to build a relationship by showing interest in their activities and passions.

Allow Time and Space to Grieve 

Furthermore, you can help your grandchildren by giving them plenty of time and space to grieve the death of a parent or a divorce. Help them learn that building a relationship with a new parent or new siblings does not need to change the relationship they had (or still have) with their biological or adoptive parent.

Assist With Childcare

Another way to support is to be available to assist with childcare as the new couple is trying to establish their relationship or as a new parent is taking time to establish a relationship with a new stepchild. It’s typically best for new parents to try to connect with one new child at a time.

Offer Encouragement

Additionally, as your daughter or son and his or her new spouse and children wrestle with which traditions need to remain and which may be ok to let go of or change, offering encouragement can be especially helpful. You might watch for ways that the two families seem to be interacting well and suggest that they create some new traditions.

For instance, maybe you have noticed that each part of the family likes to cook, but both prefer different types of food. One part of the family could teach the other part how to prepare the food they like and vice versa. Then, for one or two holidays per year, the blended family could decide on a completely different style of food and some new holiday traditions.

Finally, expect disagreements, arguments, and sometimes significant rifts in relationships. Help your children and grandchildren focus on what they are doing well. Encourage counseling with a marriage and family therapist if rifts become destructive to family unity or cause concerns about any family member’s health, safety, or well-being. 

Don’t forget to take care of yourself! You can only help if you have a full tank from which to support your children and grandchildren.

In that Bermuda triangle space, way back in the bottom corner of my kitchen cabinet, I store empty canning jars. I don’t often need them, but when I do, it means I need to get on the floor to extend as far as possible into the dark underbelly of my cabinets. Most women know that canning jars have an endless variety of uses and should not be relegated into someplace so very difficult to reach.

My daughter uses them for iced tea on a hot day. Overflowing with flowers, they decorate tables. Candles flicker and magnify inside them. And some, to whom I find myself in awe, actually use them for canning food.

The original manna jar of the Israelites probably didn’t look much like those glass jars which hug the bottom back of my cabinets. But the jars had some of the very same grandparenting purposes we treasure.

^“And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.’” (Exodus 16:33 ESV)

 “What is it?” the people questioned. “What is it?” the children asked.

The manna jar was a powerful object lesson for the Israelite children and their children, and the ones still to come.

Children relate to concrete objects. Jesus used them often to illustrate His messages. Our grandchildren hear our personal stories with their ears. They see with their eyes if we illustrate with an object. When we put something into their hands, they feel it against their skin. They participate in its story.

Recently, I read the account again in Exodus 16 of the Israelites in the wilderness. They grumbled and complained like little children. Their exaggerations and blame looked at past Egyptian bondage as if it had been paradise. They began to look at their freedom and all its miraculous God-accomplishments as if it were slavery.

^“and the people of Israel said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’” (Exodus 16:3 ESV)

And so, God created manna. Therein began the forty-year “how do you like your manna” recipe book. The miracle of bread from heaven became expected, mundane, and tiresome. They turned a provision from God into misery and blame toward Moses. The cycle of complaints could have at the least distorted the truth of God’s amazing salvation from the Egyptians. And at most, it could have completely obliterated the memory of God’s glorious acts.

But they had a jar.

God knew the power of a tangible reminder.

For us, it might be a note, a gift, or a box. God has brought us through many things in our long lives. Much of it is worth remembering and mining for the golden nugget. Those need to be passed on to another generation to stop the drift from forgetfulness and be reminded of truth.

What’s in your manna jar? What tangible reminders do you have that own a piece of your God story?

My husband has an old Model A in our garage. It belonged to his mother when she went to high school. Not only does it tangibly delight our grandchildren with its horn and rumble seat air-conditioning, but it also gives opportunity for him to relay stories about their great-grandma’s salvation and faith. It opens doors to more stories as she led my husband to Christ.

We both have kept sweet letters from our children, who are now the parents of our grandchildren. Those pages tell a story of growth, appreciation, and love. Can you imagine the delight of unfolding them and reading what their mom or dad wrote so many years ago?

I own a vase given by our first landlord when we were fresh young missionaries on foreign soil. It’s a tangible way to talk about God’s call on our lives for overseas ministry. There is the china from my mom, the piano from my dad, and the old Bible from Great Grandpa.

You have them too, all around your house. They are memories, tangible and important proofs that God led through the waters, guided in the storms, and provided in the desert. And sometimes they are such a part of life we forget the power of the manna jar of experiences that point to our Heavenly Father.

These things, mere objects, relay truths not just for grandchildren, but also for us. God desired for His people to remember His acts. What He had done for them helped them to know the character of the God who did them.

But God recognized how quickly we forget what we think we cannot.

We often sing a worship song in church about God’s faithfulness. To see young people sing with their hearts and voices lifted in acknowledgment of a faithful God in their few years brings stinging tears to my eyes. Grandpa and Grandma, we have seen Him faithful for many years.

How’s your manna jar?

I hope as you look around you, tangible stories will fill it full. May they give concrete voices to testify of Christ’s hand as He parted waters, lifted you from evil, and sustained in sorrow.

As you brush off memories to hold and treasure from the back recesses of your experiences, may they be clear and transparent. May your manna jars be placed into sweet little hands so they too can gaze on the wonder of Jesus.

Leaves are tumbling in the air, falling gracefully and quietly to the ground. However, they will be disturbed again and again by the loud laughter of grandkids who are supposed to be helping rake up the leaves but instead are jumping in them, redistributing them once more.

This scene brings back happy memories of my own childhood. As I stand there, holding the useless rake, memories continue tumbling and falling. Soon I will have my own little pile, memory on top of memory.

What are some of your favorite memories of fall? Which ones can you do with your grandchildren? Below are some of my favorites. They are organized by age levels, but be sure to check out each list for ideas you can use.

Younger Ages

• Go for a walk and collect acorns, colored leaves, and signs of Fall
• Make a placemat out of colored leaves – paste them onto construction paper, add a Scripture passage about being thankful, then laminate or cover with contact paper
• Talk about creation and all the wonders of God
• Memorize a Bible verse that teaches them to be thankful and share it at the Thanksgiving get-together
• Take a family photo to use for your Christmas card
• Build a blanket fort, sit inside, and read a book (like My Wish of All Wishes)
• Make a pinecone bird feeder
• Collect then make leaf and tree bark rubbings
• Go on a hayride and sing praise songs to Jesus
• Make a November calendar filling in each day with something or someone to be thankful for – each day pray and thank God for His blessings
• Plant bulbs for Spring
• Mail a Fall adventure box to long-distance grandkids and fill it with fall-themed items

Elementary Ages

• Put up fall decorations like mums, pumpkins, haystacks, scarecrow
• Go apple picking, then come home and make your favorite apple recipe
• Visit a corn maze – on the way home, discuss what the Bible says about being lost and finding your way
• Teach a favorite hymn like “We Gather Together” and sing it at your Thanksgiving gathering
• Make a fall wreath to hang on your front door
• Make a no-sew blanket and deliver it to a shelter – as you make it, pray for the person who will receive it.
• Have a bonfire where you sing songs and tell stories (ask who knows about a Bible story where a fire and snake were involved?)
• Find a service project you could do together like raking leaves or serving food at a shelter
• Support their school events
• Have a chili cook-off and vote on who makes the best chili in your family
• Teach your grandchild how to knit a scarf
• Go to a thrift store and find sweaters to wear
• Take a ride to see the leaves changing color – stop at a roadside stand and pick up pumpkins and apples to make a dessert for the family
• Fill in a November calendar with acts of kindness they can do – choose some activities you can do with them
• Give them a journal where each day they draw or write what they are grateful for
• Cook your favorite Thanksgiving meal items and have each family member vote for their favorite

Older Ages

• Host a Fall Photo Contest – who can capture the best Fall photo
• Create a care box for our troops
• Have a fondue night and share a fall memory with them
• Work on a poem or short story about what they are thankful for – read it at your Thanksgiving gathering
• Choose a few Scripture passages to learn about giving thanks
• Go shopping for ingredients and make soup and homemade bread for the rest of the family
• Go antiquing
• Volunteer at a food bank
• Go for a bike ride
• Make a coffee date
• Decorate your nails with fall designs
• Go on a shopping trip for fall clothing or accessories
• Have a Scavenger Hunt in the dark and supply them with a list of items and glow-in-the-dark sticks
• Read a mystery novel together or watch a mystery movie
• Visit a National Park and maybe stay in a cabin overnight and go for a hike
• Attend a college football game or sporting event

If you purchased last year’s planner, check that for even more ideas. Also, you can purchase the 2025 Grandparenting Planner for ideas that cover every month plus so much more.

Many of us are now in the ‘fall’ of our lives with so many things changing all around us. May this fall season remind us once more that change can be beautiful. Embrace this season and get out and have some fun with your grandchildren!

Each November, our grandchildren are excited when it is time for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. The boxes arrive at church, and they excitedly pick one up. I do not even remember how many years we have been doing it now, but it is an activity we welcome and look forward to as a family each year.

I do remember some of our grandkids toddling up to the front of the church with their box weighing them down. If help was offered, it was quickly and firmly turned down. They were determined to place their box on the church altar steps like their older siblings.

Here is how we seek to connect our grandchildren to The Great Commission through this activity.

Filling the Shoeboxes

We gather and ask each grandchild pertinent questions such as, “Do you want to fill a shoebox for a boy or a girl?” Often the girls pick girls, and the boys pick boys. Next, we consider the age of the boy or girl.

Once those decisions are made, we talk through possible items to place in the shoebox. There are the common every-year items of crayons, colored pencils, small stuffed toy, car, socks, and balls. After making our list of suggested items, we head to various stores to collect the treasures.

Each year, the enjoyment has not diminished but grown. I feel that is because now they are older and understand the reason behind this fun activity. While considering, deciding, purchasing, and filling the boxes is still a highlight; they now also pray very diligently and purposefully for the boy or girl that will receive their box.

Being able to track their box adds to the anticipation as well as the gravity of this small gesture. Yet is this actually part of something so much bigger?

Spreading the Gospel

God calls all believers to tell others about Jesus and what He has done for us. A fun activity can open the door to developing your grandchildren’s hearts to want to go and tell others about Jesus.

Matthew 28:18-20 commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. This is a very tangible way to help your grandchildren take part in making disciples of all nations.

Probably not all your grandchildren will be involved in going overseas to share the gospel, but this is a great way for them to be involved in missions without leaving home. Talk about what The Great Commission means and how filling the shoebox for a child is one way to obey that command.

Remember to point out that among all the special gifts they chose to include, Samaritan’s Purse will include a Bible booklet. The message of the gospel will be clearly shared in an age-appropriate way.

Feeling the Love of Christmas

The Christmas season is an opportune time to turn and tune their hearts to giving to others. In addition to being a way to fulfill The Great Commission, Operation Christmas Child is a way to live out The Great Commandment – to love God and others. By obeying The Great Commission your grandchildren are learning a tangible way to love God.

Subsequently, when a child receives a shoebox, they feel loved. Our grandchildren also feel love for the child who will receive the box. This love grows as they pray for that individual child, even though they do not know their name.

It is a blessing to see grandchildren grow in their faith as they develop a greater love and concern for the lost. More than one of our older grandchildren has voiced the amazement to be part of God’s plan to redeem the world.

Conclusion

There are lots of opportunities to be involved in sharing the gospel with your grandchildren through the holiday season. May you consider Operation Christmas Child as one powerful way!

As you gather and fill your shoeboxes, may God bless your conversations with your grandchildren. Who knows, God could use this activity to reach your own grandchild with the gospel.

May your grandchildren experience the true joy of the season of Christmas as they share the precious gift of Jesus through their carefully and lovingly-filled shoebox.

Editor’s Note: Find more information about how to pack a shoebox as well as the transformational impact of Operation Christmas Child at this link. Samaritan’s Purse will be a resource provider at our upcoming Legacy Grandparenting Summit on February 21-22, 2025 at the live site in Birmingham, AL. Find more host sites and dates across the United States and Canada.

Before the feeding of the 5,000, the apostles were attempting to talk to Jesus and tell him what they’d been doing. But, it was useless. There were too many people around; too much commotion and too many interruptions. So, what did Jesus do? In Mark’s account (6:31), Jesus suggests they get away from the crowds to a quiet place.

Ahhhh! Imagine Jesus taking you by the hand and inviting you to come along. To just slow down and breathe deeply. He wants us to let go of the noise, confusion, and distractions. To just press the “pause” button on life and relax.

Sounds good. Right?

It makes me think of the Sherpas who serve as guides for climbers in the Himalayan Mountains. They lead adventurous climbers, carrying their heavy equipment up the rugged mountainsides. They serve as escorts, encouraging novice climbers over and over again.

But at some spot in the climb, the Sherpas stop unexpectedly. No explanation. They simply put down their heavy loads as if they’re waiting for someone or something. And, they simply rest.

When the Sherpas are asked why they stop, their answer is simple: “We are waiting for our souls to catch up with our bodies,” they say.

Oh, my goodness! We Westerners are an impatient bunch, aren’t we? Our culture almost demands we keep going and going. We have a “GIT-R-DONE” mentality and are driven by ‘to-do’ lists and dates on our calendars. We make lists, check things off, and then add to our lists. Our minds race ahead at a swift pace, urging our bodies to keep up. No wonder we feel scattered, shattered, and disconnected. 

We GO until there’s no GO left. We are depleted, fatigued, and spent. We desperately need balance and wholeness. We yearn for time to renew and refresh; to rest and reflect. 

Jesus knew his followers weren’t created for this, so he basically said to them, “Come with me and chill!”

Our souls operate at a God-given tempo – slow and deliberate. Perhaps we should learn from the Sherpas and wait for our souls to catch up with our bodies.

Oh, Creative Creator!
We thank you for your patience. 
Help us reflect on you as we wait for our souls. 
Bless us as we serve you in our homes, families, and world.
We love you, Lord. 
Amen.

Editor’s Note: May we continue to model Jesus to our families. One way is to draw away from the busyness of life by pressing pause on activity. May our grandchildren see us taking time to ‘be still and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10]

We tend to plan out our days when the grandkids visit. We cram them full of one activity after another. Let us not forget to plan downtime – time to let our souls catch up with our bodies. Some things you could consider are snuggling together while listening to praise music. Sitting outside to observe the sunset -quiet and still – just taking in the awe and wonder of our Creator. Swinging on the porch swing, legs dangling in the air while enjoying the birds singing, is a favorite of ours. What are some things that come to mind for you?

Disagreement or grumpiness being displayed by your grandchild or even you is a telltale sign that a break is due. Watch for those warnings and heed them. Give your grandchild and yourself time to rest, renew, and refresh. 

May they witness us also taking time to feed our souls. May we share what that looks like for us. May we be willing to be vulnerable to express those times when we did not take time and suffered negative consequences.

Help your grandchildren see the need along with ways to place those boundaries – those guard rails in their life even now. As they grow and face more pressure on the use of their time, may they learn the importance of allowing their souls to catch up with their bodies.