Imagine the footprints you would leave behind from walking through a freshly poured concrete sidewalk. Now, imagine your children and grandchildren as wet cement; what footprints will you leave in their lives?
In the book Leaving a Godly Legacy (1999), Charles Stanley encourages his readers “to leave a weighty, permanent imprint of God’s love, goodness, and forgiveness wherever we walk, for as long as we walk on this earth … a weighty, permanent imprint of Christ Jesus.” Echoing the apostle Paul’s charge to “live a life worthy” of our calling, Stanley connects the call of God to the imprint we have on the people closest to us, particularly our children and grandchildren.
Here is a list of ten things I hope are a part of the lasting impression you make:
#1 FAITH IN LORD JESUS CHRIST
The best gift any grandparent can give to their grandchildren is not a big birthday present, the latest-greatest technological gizmo, a Disney vacation, nor even a college savings plan. The greatest gift is a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A living, real relationship with the Lord of the universe is number ONE.
Paul praised Timothy for his “genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” (2 Timothy 1:5 NLT)
Dale Evans Rogers shares an excellent example of the importance of passing along faith in Christ:
An energetic, mischievous young boy, Billy Frank knew the stories about the heroism of his grandfather, Ben Coffey – a one-eyed, one-legged Civil War veteran, who worked harder than most men who had two legs and eyes. When he returned from the war and began raising a family, he made daily Bible reading and prayers a regular part of the family routine. His grandson, Billy Frank, benefited from the example set by Grandfather Coffey when his own mother and father followed that godly pattern. Billy became a Christian after hearing a sermon by a Southern evangelist, but the example his grandparents set had already prepared him by pointing him in the right direction. Maybe you’ve heard of Billy – his last name is Graham. (Grandparents Can, 1983)
#2 TESTIMONY
Share your story of what God has done for you. Your children and grandchildren need a sense of your spiritual roots. You are the family historian passing along the greatness of the Lord to another generation.
- “I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.” (Psalm 45:17 NLT)
- “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.” (Psalm 79:13 NLT)
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#3 PRAY FOR and WITH (GRAND)CHILDREN
Model prayer in front of their eyes and consistently pray behind their backs. Paul’s prayers recorded in the New Testament may serve as excellent guides for your prayers. For example, Ephesians 3:14-21; Colossians 1:9-11; and Philippians 1:9-11).
#4 FINANCIALLY SUPPORT GOD’S KINGDOM
As a young boy, I got to stay over with my grandparents several times. My grandmother Martin took my brother and I to all her church activities – Sunday school, morning and evening services. She expected us to bring our Bibles and giving in the offering. If we didn’t have money, she would give us some! Maybe she was making sure her grandkids got the offering box checked-off during the Sunday School assessment. Actually, she was impressing upon me the importance of giving.
Let the blessing of the tithe cover your “seed”, your children and grandchildren.
“See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Hosts. “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Hosts. (Malachi 3:10b-12 HCSB)
#5 GENEROSITY
Practice generosity with your children and grandchildren. Parents, please allow those gifts from grandparents. You and your children will be blessed.
#6 LOVING WORDS
Communicate just how special you believe your children or grandchildren are. Your words build self-esteem and as you speak the truth in love you will also build God-confidence. “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, making people happy and healthy.” (Proverbs 16:24 NCV)
#7 WISDOM
You have a lifetime of wisdom to share, just don’t try to let it all out at once. The next generation needs your wisdom, but often you will need to exercise patience for the right moment to impart it. Let your wise words build a bridge from your generation to another.
#8 PRESENCE
Be a REFUFE in times of trouble, a REJOICE-ER in times of achievement. Model Christ-like character. Jesus Christ lives in your life; you are a carrier of incarnational presence. Let His character and compassion be evident.
#9 TIME
Be accessible. Try to make time for your kids and grandkids. Create opportunities to read to them, talk with them, share life together with them. An eight-year-old eloquently communicated this aspect. She wrote:
A grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own, so she likes other people’s boys and girls. Grandmas don’t have anything to do except be there. If they take us for walks, they slow down past pretty leaves and caterpillars. They never say ‘Hurry up.’ Usually they are fat but not too fat to tie shoes. They wear glasses, and sometimes they can take their teeth out. They can answer questions like why dogs hate cats and why God isn’t married. They don’t talk like visitors do which is hard to understand. When they read to us, they don’t skip words or mind if it is the same story again. Everybody should try to have a grandma, especially if you don’t have television, because grandmas are the only grownups who always have time. (Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes, p. 393)
#10 SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE
Don’t just leave money as an inheritance. Read the Bible with your grandkids. Pass along your Matthew 6:33 viewpoint. Make sure you to teach your children and grandchildren to love God more than things, to trust God’s sovereignty and power – nothing is too hard for the Lord – and to realize God’s love for them.
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” (Proverbs 13:22 NASB)
It’s not too late. The concrete is still wet. Make sure you leave the right lasting impression.
