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Good morning, friends! This morning, my heart is full as I await a few of my grandchildren to come and spend the day with me. Recently, I've had the blessing of having their company more often. I can't tell you how I look forward to their little faces showing up at my door. They come, blankets and all, with big expectations. Some days, I'm really not all that enthused about playing with play dough again, or cleaning up the messes from finger painting, or coloring for the hundredth time this week, it seems. But storytime, how I love that bit of time when we curl up on the couch together while we read. This has become our routine right before naps. Now, what grandma out there doesn't enjoy cuddling in bed for a short nap with their little ones? Blessed, I am, for sure! But one day…this!
My one dear granddaughter seemed to be intent on not telling the truth about who scribbled all over the kitchen ceiling. While I realize that it's perfectly normal for little ones to fear telling the truth when they've gone astray, I also saw the need to help her through this situation. Her dad had tried tirelessly to get her to "fess up" to no avail. She was steadfastly determined to insist that her sister had done that. The older sister was emphatically defending herself, saying, "I did not!" The younger would rail back, "Yes, you did!" Poor dad tried to remind little miss sassy pants that she would be in less trouble if she'd just tell the truth -- to which she replied, "It wasn't me!" The next approach was in telling her that it makes Jesus sad when you tell a lie. No response, not budging. Grandma to the rescue! I said, "Come here" (very gently and sympathetically). She came towards me, eyes downcast; a sure sign of guilt. I told her to hold my hands and look at my eyes. When she did, I said, "You didn't really mean to scribble on the kitchen ceiling, did you?" She never hesitated a moment, but quickly answered me, "It was a accident!" Now, just let me say that in that moment of victory for grandma it was very hard not to find humor in the whole ordeal. What can I say? I'm seasoned in dealing with these issues. Making a young child look into your eyes while you speak sympathetically, well, it can make the toughest melt. Seriously, though? It was a accident! You just have to love the innocence of a small child, right?
In this world in which we are living, there seems to be little difference between what is right and what is wrong and sinful. It has almost become a sin to mention sin, right? It would seem that our world has gone crazy and all that we grew up with as good and right is now wrong and evil. How my heart aches for this generation of parents attempting to raise "good" children! We seem to have lost our moral compass. What in the world is it coming to?
1 Thessalonians 5:21, 22 tells us: "Test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil." It seems simple, right? But the world at large has turned its' back on God and all that is good, and instead gravitated towards self and doing whatever feels good for themselves at any given moment. The results have been devastating, to say the least! It seems there are children among us who have never even heard about this Jesus, let alone give their lives to Him. And we often shake our heads and go on with our own lives. Shouldn't we do something??
There is a plaque sitting on my desk that says, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." There have been numerous occasions in my life when this saying has inspired me to be more faithful in whatever I find myself involved in. Don't we so need those today who are willing to rise up and make a path through the wilderness? To make a godly difference in the lives of those around them? To make an impact on their lives for the good, and not evil? To teach our little ones that wrong is still wrong and right is still right? That love still covers a multitude of sins, and that forgiveness is always waiting at the name of Jesus? Who will do these things in the lives of the next generation? Sadly, maybe we are too engaged in our own agenda that we are missing what truly matters. I once was…that has changed for me. Making an impression for the Lord on the hearts of my precious grandchildren is on my mind at the break of dawn each new day now. I am so blessed to share in their little lives now, so that one fine day when they are grown, they'll remember and live out what they were taught as young children. While their parents play a vital role in this, grandma rallies behind them for the sake of their souls.
In the wee hours of the mornings, I am often blessed to share with a dear friend, and we chat about our grandchildren and how we plan to spend our day with them. She talks of fixing little girl's hair, and making mountains of delicious breakfast foods for them. She sends me pictures of cuddling with them while she sips her first coffee of the day. Little does my friend know how much she has inspired me to return to what truly matters in this life…touching the lives of our loved ones. The simple acts of love. They are so key to opening up little hearts and helping them be receptive to what we have to share with them. It really comes down to this…don't we all have a choice each new day as to how we will spend our time? Yes, we do. I almost missed it. I'm so blessed to have made a conscious decision to get involved. It certainly helps me to have dear friends who also have made the same decisions. Hey, the hands that rock the cradle, are the hands that rule the world, right? Who knows but God what a good, good plan it was for grandmas to be older and wiser and then to use that wisdom to make a difference in the world? In their world?
My sweet grandchildren will be coming soon. We will play with playdough, color, read stories and nap. I'm guessing there will be a few trying moments, with maybe a "fib" or two throughout the day. It's all good. God gave me a voice; I'll use it to show my grandchildren that what's right will always be right, and what's wrong is still wrong. I'll sing to them that Jesus loves them. We'll laugh together. We'll make precious memories. While they nap next to me, I'll be praying for their dear parents who've got a fight on their hands for the souls of their children in today's world. I pray it will be enough. I pray someday they will look back at grandma with such fond memories of love, that they, too, will teach what is good and right, while they sing and tell the world that "Jesus saves". To all the sweet grandmas out there who have taken a stand for Jesus…bless you! The world will be a better place for your sacrifices of time and efforts. It is more precious than gold! Your reward is coming, yet it will be before your eyes now. Jesus loves you, this I know!
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Debby Renninger is a freelance writer and inspirational speaker. She holds a Bible study in her home in McVeytown, where seeking women are always welcome. She may be reached at (717) 250-7086 for speaking engagements.