Praying for Grandparents and the Legacy They Leave
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
Psalm 145:4 — One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
SOMETHING TO PONDER
On a chilly November morning, my children’s school hosted its first Grandparents Day. As the lead volunteer who put the event together, I got a front-row seat to the grandparents' sweetness, and I walked away knowing they're among the most loved people in the world.
At the planning meeting, I noted that, since it was our first gathering of this kind, we expected around 70 people total. We sent emails and posted signage around the building. What happened over the next few weeks was beyond anything I could have imagined. Yet, God confirmed what I have always known to be true: Grandparent relationships matter immensely to children's hearts.
What I thought would be a small gathering of 70 quickly became a gigantic gathering of 537 people. Grandparents showed up in a way that I couldn’t believe! Some grandparents even flew in for the big day. It was a day I will treasure in my heart forever.
As I looked out over the room as everyone settled in, I found myself in awe, standing in a room full of legacy, love, and faith. I couldn’t help but think about how pleasing that moment must have been to the Lord! God even went so far as to mention grandparents and the importance of their legacies many times in the Word.
Proverbs 13:22 — "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
2 Timothy 1:5 — “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
Proverbs 17:6 — "Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
Psalm 103:17 — "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.”
Deuteronomy 4:9 — “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
Psalm 71:18 — "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come."
Titus 2:2–4 — “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children.”
Psalm 145:4 — One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
Time and time again, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we’re reminded of the great impact Grandparents and grandparent figures have on children. Their legacies are rich — in wisdom, story, presence, and faith.
Grandparents get to have a seat at the table of a child’s life that a parent cannot fill. They can soften hard conversations; their wisdom is often met with invitation rather than resistance; and their presence brings a special kind of joy.
My hope and prayer is that grandparents feel honored and celebrated, cherished and heard, knowing that the Lord delights in the love they lavish on the grandchildren He has given them.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father, thank you for the gift of grandparents and the wisdom they offer. Help me be someone who makes sure older generations know they are loved, cherished, and celebrated. I pray to be someone who reminds them that their stories and presence are wanted and needed. Holy Spirit, would you encourage the grandparents today who need to be reminded of what a gift they are and how much they have to offer the younger generations. Give them the boldness to speak truth and the confidence to share your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
How has a relationship with a grandparent, or a grandparent-like person, shaped the way you live today?
What piece of wisdom did you receive as a child from an older individual that you still think about?
How has an older individual's faith encouraged you?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Ippei Naoi
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
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