Shirley Brosius

I was honored and a little nervous to be invited into the delivery room for the birth of my first grandchild. Before I knew it, a tiny 5-pound bundle of lungs shouted her way into my heart. In the past nine years, four more equally precious grandchildren have joined Rachel. Of course I want to be all that God expects me to be as a grandparent. Here are eight ways I've found to leave a legacy of faith.

1. Talk about God with your grandchildren so that they talk to you about God. I once was paging through the Old Testament when Rachel, age 4 at the time, noticed a picture of Abraham with his raised hand holding a dagger over Isaac.

"Nana, what is that man doing?" she demanded to know. As I explained God was testing Abraham's obedience, she, of course, asked why. I flipped to the New Testament, seeking a less violent, more age-appropriate story, and upon seeing a picture of Jesus, she commented, "Sometimes I think, what if Jesus would come back right here! I would call my friends and say, 'Come over right away.'"

As an "older" Rachel recently treated me to a back massage, she asked how God could be One if He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I've shared with my grandchildren how God guarded me through my teen years, how He has answered my prayers, and how I have seen Him bring good out of bad circumstances. Your grandchildren may not remember your birthplace, but they will remember your stories of faith.

"I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past. ... We must not hide them from their children, but must tell a future generation the praises of the LORD, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed" (Ps. 78:2, 4).

2. Record your faith along with your memories. Whether you use a memory book or write memoirs from your daily life, include snippets of your religious upbringing. What do you remember about church as a child? Did you sit with your parents? Did you giggle on the back pew? What religious reminders decorated your home? What were some of your spiritual marker events?

I want my grandchildren to understand their spiritual heritage, including seasons of seeking and feeling separated from God, such as when their aunt, my only daughter, died at birth.

"You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it" (Ps. 139:5-6).

3. Pray with and for your grandchildren. The world is a dangerous place. We are privileged to pray for their spiritual growth, relationships, study, health, and safety. They need prayer support to develop Christian virtues and to learn Christian principles. From time to time I pray from my Grandma's Brag Book album, and as I look into the faces of my grandchildren, my prayers become more meaningful.

"Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly" (Prov. 17:6).

4. Attend grandchildren's special events or send notes of congratulation. Tell them that you thank God for the gifts and talents He has given to them. Grandchildren love getting mail, and they will treasure notes recognizing milestones and achievements.

"A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples on a silver tray" Proverbs 25:11.

5. Model Christian living. Let your grandchildren work beside you to bake bread or cookies, then enjoy the fruits of your labor together. Live out Christian principles, such as kindness, forgiveness, honesty, and obedience to God. Show them how to graciously deal with a customer service representative -- whether or not you get your way.

Let them watch you study God's Word. My memorization of the book of Philippians has inspired two of my grandchildren to set the goal of memorizing 1 John. They've almost mastered chapter one.

"I have Your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart" (Ps. 119:111)

6. Participate in the religious training of your grandchildren. Each summer I host grandchildren who qualify for a nearby, week-long church day camp. I daily pack lunches and chauffeur them back and forth. At times I have sat with one or the other to help them settle in.

Last year, a grandson refused to stay at camp one day, so we spent a quiet day together in my home. After promising him an ice cream outing, he was off to camp the next morning.

Look for outdoor Christmas crèche events and other seasonal displays to visit at local churches. Discuss with grandchildren what is biblical and what may be enhancements of a biblical story. Teach them compassion by taking them with you to visit a nursing home. They are far less squeamish about interacting with physically or mentally impaired residents than you may be.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1:7

7. Buy gifts that accent what you believe. Books, books, books! Talk to a church librarian if you're unsure about age-appropriate selections. I have purchased most of Patricia St. John's books for children for Rachel and this year discovered some by Janette Oke just right for my beginning readers.

From picture books for babies to biographies for juniors and fiction for teens, books pave the way for faith by offering stories about making right choices. They introduce grandchildren to Christian heroes and heroines and open doors of adventure that may lead to ministry or missionary service.

"Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us" (Heb. 12:1).

8. Buy games to play and books to read at your house. Each time a grandchild sleeps over we wind our way through a maze book or read of quaint animals in a book of virtues. At times I've read poems or books from my own childhood that shaped my view of God.

Use games to teach principles of fairness and help children learn how to graciously win or lose. Games and books offer quiet moments and lots of opportunities for spontaneous high five's or hugs.

Passing on a legacy of faith to grandchildren can happen as naturally as breathing. We just need to open our eyes to opportunities.

"These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house an when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (Deut. 6:6-7).

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