Generational Grandparenting

Perhaps you did not know, and I did not until very recently, that September is “Grandparents Appreciation Month.” While most of these “appreciative” months can feel contrived, this one is not. Grandparents are a true gift. And the best grandparents are the ones who aren’t just known for the typical grandparent things like having Werther’s candy on hand and cooking on Thanksgiving. The best ones are the ones who live a faithful life before the Lord, seeking to leave a generational impact on their families.

We know very little about the woman, Lois, mentioned by Paul in his second letter to Timothy. But we do know two very important things: first, we know that she was the mother of Eunice and the grandmother of Timothy. Second, we know that Timothy’s sincere faith began with her. Lois was a grandmother of tremendous gospel impact (2 Timothy 1:5). She had an impact not just on her family, but through her grandson, she had an impact on the city of Ephesus and eventually the world.

Grandparents, never underestimate your potential to impact many, especially through your grandchildren. A 2011 Barna report asked teenagers whom they admire most besides their parents. The most common answer—grandparents. More than athletes, movie stars, and friends, teenagers identified their grandparents as second only to parents in admiration. If that is the case, use that admiration, like Lois, to impact your grandchildren for Christ.

Generational Impact

Deuteronomy 4:9 is an important verse for grandparents:  

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children” (emphasis mine).

In this verse, notice that Paul mentions three generations. There is the call to care and keep your soul diligently. That’s the first generation. And then you are to extend that same care to your children (second generation) and finally to your grandchildren (third generation). The goal of faithful grandparenting is to have a generational impact that outlasts your life.

While we do not know much about Lois, we do know that she had a sincere faith that left a mark on her grandson, Timothy. From the phrase “sincere faith,” we can make a few likely deductions. As a grandmother with a “sincere faith,” Lois was likely faithful in attending church each Sunday morning. With “sincere faith,” Lois was likely faithful in praying for her family. The list could go on. Lois likely lived an honorable life, and when she fell short, she was quick to confess her sin. Lois believed the scriptures. Lois served the Lord throughout the week. Because Paul noticed her sincere faith, we know Lois was a faithful Christian woman.

And she did so as an open book. She did not hide her lamp under a bushel but lived out her sincerity of faith publicly, especially in front of her grandson. As young Timothy watched his grandmother, he realized he wanted to believe and live with the same sincerity of faith.

Grandparents Support Parenting

The most foundational authority in a child’s life is, of course, the parents. Dad and mom are on the front lines of discipling the next generation. All that is true of Lois must have been equally true of Eunice. Good grandparents should never supplant the parents. However, as a father of five young children, I recognize that we need others beyond my wife and me to reinforce what we teach in our home. Every family has unique rhythms and habits. That’s fine, but we want our children to see that Christianity is not just unique to our household. It’s a comprehensive truth that transcends our immediate family.

Grandparents can help grandchildren see this. “Oh, it’s not just that mom prays, but grandma does, as well. It’s not just that my dad displays the fruit of the Spirit, but grandpa does, too.” Considering that grandparents are second in terms of admiration, they can normalize everything the parents are trying to establish in the home.

During this month of September, thank you to all the faithful grandparents out there. We are blessed by the candy you slip into our pockets and the generous hosting of family gatherings. We are thankful for the birthday cards, encouragement, and ever-present care.

But we are most thankful for your sincere faith. As long as the Lord gives you breath, we pray that you will continue to follow Christ sincerely in a way that impacts the coming generations. 

We don’t know much about Lois, but we know she had sincere faith that outlived her through Eunice and Timothy. May the same be true of you.

©2024 Jon Saunders. Used with permission.