Grandmother On Assignment
Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 10:46AM 
Daughter and granddaughter
I’ve been a grandmother for less than a year, not long enough to be an expert, but long enough to know that all the grandmas who went before me were right: It really is the best thing ever. I see my grandchildren as blessings from God in a way I didn’t see with my own children, not because I didn’t know my kids were blessings, but because when you’re the parent, little blessings come with loads of work and responsibility. The unrelentingness of parenting can shade our view of the blessing side of children.
Grandmothering is not like that. Grandmothers do, of course, have responsibilities toward their grandchildren (I’ll say more on that later.), but not in the ultimate way that parents do. In the end, the kiddies go home; our joy is not tempered by day to day care.
I didn’t have much say as to whether or when I became a grandmother. I had children who grew up to have children, and the role is now mine. It is as simple as that.
Or maybe not. It is also, I’d argue, an appointment from God. In the context of writing about the family and social relationships of new believers, Paul writes:
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him… (1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV).
There’s a general principle in there for us all: Family circumstances and relationships are assignments from God. I am called by him to be a grandmother; it is a God-given role. God summons me to serve him in the vocation of grandmotherhood.
I’ll return to this theme again, looking at what duties God assigns me in my new vocation and how I can fulfill this calling. Meanwhile, I ask you:
- Are you a grandmother? If so, how do you serve God as a grandmother?
- Are you a mother or father? Then how has your mother or mother-in-law served God by serving you as a parent? Or your children as children?
- Are you a person who has or has had a grandmother? How does/did she serve God in her relationship to you?
Reader Comments (3)
I'm really looking forward to hearing what you have to say about this. My mother-in-law has served her vocation of being a grandmother simply by loving my kids, warts and all. When they were younger, it was probably easier for her. But as they have got older and started to spread their wings, no matter what decisions they have made (ones I know she didn't approve of) she always loves them and lets them know how much she does.
Congrats Rebecca! :) Being a grandma definitely provides the best of both worlds! For me the greatest blessing of all has been to watch my children pass the baton of Truth onto their children. These are things I prayed for when they were babies. We serve an mighty God!
"One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts,: Ps 145:4
I'd not ever thought of Grandmothering as an "assignment from God." But I like that thought and it has caused me to reflect on my "assignment." Not sure what my "responsibilities are." I have two grandsons, 6 and 3. They are a joy and blessing. We live 4 houses apart and amazingly it has worked well. We take our grandchildren to church (when the parents aren't able), Awana's, sport practices, pick the oldest up from school when needed, and every Friday we have for the past 6 years had "family Friday dinners" and alternate cooking responsibilities every other week. I've read through two children's bibles with my grandsons so far and tjoml my main responsibility is to pass on faith in Christ by grace alone and pray for their love of the Savior and love of His truth.