Grandparenting

We were excited in the summer of 1992 to find out that we were to be grandparents for the first time in a few months. And when my wife and I attended a workshop a few days later, we were drawn to a class on grandparenting conducted by Stafford North and his wife. One of the things the North's challenge us to do in that class was to come up with some idea that would be a way to demonstrate to our grandkids how much we valued them.

As a result of that brainstorming session, I came up with a plan that I have been practicing now for nearly 16 years. My grandson was born on 14 January in 93. On the 14th of each month, he receives a card from me telling him how much he is loved, and picturing for himself a special feature I see for him. I also enclose a five dollar bill that is to be put into his mission fund, so that when he is 16 he will be able to go on a mission trip with me to the Caribbean.

I now have four grandchildren, and each of them receives a card each month on the date of their birth. I create the cards on the computer these days, so there is a personal touch even to the cards. I don't how much the cards mean to the kids, but it helps me express my deep love for them and I have a sense of connection that I might not otherwise have through these efforts. And next summer my first grandson will be old enough to take his first trip to Dominica with me!




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When We Attended a Grandparenting Seminar

My wife and I attended a family seminar at Abilene Christian University the July before our first grandchild was to be born the next January. One of the sessions offered was on being godly grandparents, and was conducted by Dr. Stafford North and his wife. They gave us all sorts of insights and warnings, we took lots of notes.

But the part we liked the most was the assignment we had during the session, to come up with at least one way we would try to influence our grandchildren. We came up with a few things that we have implemented, but one is very dear to me.


I determined that I would send him/her and note from me each month, on the day of the month which my grandchild was born. In the note I would let him know that he is loved and prayed for. I would picture for him some value I wanted him to embrace or some goal for his future. I would also include a dollar each month to be saved toward his first mission trip to the Caribbean with me when he turned 15.


Six months later I implemented the tradition and have carried it on every month for over 13 years. I added each of the other grandkids as they came along, so now I write 4 notes each month, one on the 1st, one on the 5th and two on the 14th. And I raised the amount to $5 each month when I began, so it costs me $20 each month. But it is a small price to pay for the joy I get in the practice and the hope I see for the future of my grandchildren.








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