Ideally every child should know that one of the most lasting friendships he can make is with his grandparents. The best way to build that bond is with memories—perhaps by telling accounts of family history over supper or a plate of brownies, painting the deck, walking or driving down the road, at family devotional times or just sitting in church together. Wherever the family is, it takes time to get to know each other from the heart through daily living. It is little moments of time together that make the ties that bind.
As I look back on my own childhood, I remember with fondness a few photos and recall scattered accounts of what my grandparents did or where they lived and worked. All four of my grandparents died before my parents were married. Growing up, I never had the special privilege of knowing what grandparents could offer me; yet, I loved to hear stories about who those special people were, things they stood for and did. I loved the fact that they were Christians trying to live a life of service to their Lord. I was deeply impressed with their perseverance to do what was right in spite of illnesses or poverty. It was in my early years that I determined to be the best grandmother I could possibly be for my grandchildren and give them all the warmth I had missed.
Fortunately, the Lord has blessed me with quite a few little people to love. I have not always been able to bond with them because I was not where they were when the bonding time was best. As the years have passed, hope for a friendship has grown because their maturity has helped to make them aware of my offers of love.
“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (Psa. 78:1-7).
by Beth Johnson, Chennai (old Madras), South India