Train up a child...

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." I have known the truth of this Bible verse as it speaks to parents and seen it "in action" with my own chidren but does it also apply to grandparents? What is a grandparent's role? I have heard it said that a grandparent can spoil their grandchild all day then return them to their parents to do the hard work of training. This might sound like fun, after all, haven't we as grandparents already "put in our time" raising our own children? Yet as Hunter and I spend time with our 8, soon to be 9, grandchildren I see this verse as applying to a grandparent's responsibilities too. So how do we do this effectively? 

One day, thinking about this question, I complained to my son-in-law that I just couldn't run after the boys like I used to do-physically I was slowling down, largely due to my disease and I was a bit depressed at the prospect of limitations that would affect my relationship with my grandchldren. He responded by explaining that it is not so much what I DO with the kids as just my presence WITH them. Quality and quanity of time does not necessarily have to translate into physical activity. In other words even from a wheelchair, a bed, or 1000s of miles apart we, as grandparents, can "train" our grandchildrren. We just have to be creative and recognize our important role in their lives and seek out ways to be part of their world. So any grandparents reading this remember, you are needed in the lives of your grandchildren. Be involved and you will be training!

Tickle time!

Water fun in 100 degree heat!

Biking together!

Trampoline jumping!