Thankful For Grandparents

 2 Timothy 1:3-5

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Here recently, I’ve had some events in my life really bring up my grandparents in my heart.  On November 20th, my grandfather, Harold Elliston, 86th birthday happened.  Papaw went home to heaven when he was 83, but when his birthday comes around, I can’t help but reflect how much of an impact he made on my life.

His bride and my grandmother, Marlene is due to have surgery here for cancer coming up November 30th and of course her precious self has been heavy on my heart.  

So during this month of Thanksgiving, as I reflected on them, my heart is ever grateful to God for giving us the gift and idea of “grandparents.” Even the word itself seems to be extremely fitting.

I look to the family unit as a unit that should not be messed with.  This is definitely the picture that the Bible gives us.  The family unit is precious in the sight of God, was established by Him, and helps bring a legacy of faith throughout generations.  A lot can be learned from a tight knit, God-centered family. As the saying goes, families that pray together, stay together and are blessed with unity in many of the things they do in life.

I was blessed to have grown up with three of my Grandparents alive and well and have the experience of the life of my godly great grandparents.

My grandparents modeled being fairly quiet people, honoring each other, loving each other unconditionally, and never quitting on their marriage; overall they set an example for the way that all of us should live these days. There is so much we can learn from our grandparents.

I thought it was fitting to put together 6 things my grandparents taught me and they teach others… if we keep our eyes open. These are life lessons that aren’t typically taught these days — the “little” things, if you will.

1. Papaw opened the door for her. Let’s be real, how often do you see young couples doing this these days?  Papaw understood that Mamaw was a gift given to Him by God.  Papaw understood the biblical principle that Eve was given to Adam as a gift because God saw that it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone.  If more men would realize the preciousness of what was before them, the family unit’s today would be in much better shape.

2. They clean their plate, regardless of what has been served. Coming through the Great Depression, my grandparents think differently about their food and are more grateful, and less picky, for each meal.  They truly do give the example that Paul gave about being content in all things.  They also remind me of how Israel should have acted in the wilderness.  When manna was given unto them, the Israelites ended up complaining asking for meat.  God got frustrated and gave it to them, but the meat was never as satisfying as the manna from heaven.  Papaw was content and thought it was special if he could simply sit down to a bottle of Pepsi and some peanuts.  Today, we have social media platforms where people do nothing but complain about the food.

3. Meal time is family time. Every day. Non-negotiable. Again, in this busy world, many families miss family dinner time. I think that’s the best time to gather with the kids, pray together, and teach them… and not only teach them, but talk! Be together. I strive to find time for a family meal daily, whether it’s peanut butter and jelly or a roast. Meal time is also a great time to count your daily blessings.  While you’re not blatantly saying, “Ok, let’s talk about our blessings”, these things happened naturally around Mamaw and Papaw’s table.  Lunch time was the big meal time designated for us.  My aunt and many of us grandchildren would stop on our lunch breaks simply to gather around the kitchen table and share a meal with Papaw and Mamaw to talk about our lives and I personally had many wonderful conversations about God with Papaw as he would always challenge me with questions about what the Bible would say about a certain topic.  He made sure that I remained sharp and would always have a reason ready for my faith.

4. They start every day with their devotions.  I feel today we are all so busy, we miss some of the little things we could be doing to grow closer to God. Again, this was as simple as watching their favorite pastor on television (Charles Stanley), or simply reading the Word together, this was a principle that came every morning as faithful as Mamaw’s coffee and Papaw’s oats.

5. Hand holding. Seems so simple, yet so darn adorable.  They would do this a lot at the table.  Just reaching over and holding each other’s hand for just a few minutes or so, but I always caught it and made me endear the precious gift of love that God gave us.  I understood what it meant for us to be joined together.  It’s a special love that God created for us.

6. The words “I love you” weren’t just words. They looked into each others’ eyes with the deepest sense of the word, so much so that you could feel it through them.  However, they just didn’t mirror that between each other, but mirrored those words when they said them to us.  When Papaw would say, “Love you buddy bud.”  I knew he meant them.  I knew in my heart, and still do to this day that my Papaw would have sacrificed everything for my well being.  In this, he had the heart of Christ.  Ready to lay everything down for one of his 99 so to speak.  Of course, I didn’t deserve that type of love.  That mirrors the grace given to us by Christ.  So when I really look back on them, Christ can be seen.

Now, I know, I was blessed to grow up with grandparents, but some of you may not have had that blessing.  I want you to think of someone in your life though that my have mirrored those qualities that I mentioned above.  Maybe not all of them, but some of them.  Let your heart think about them this day and just have a heart of gratefulness and thankfulness unto God for the precious gift we have in those people.  

Ephesians 6:12 means even much more when we think on these things.   Especially the end when it reminds us that the commandment was the first one with a promise.

We receive a more abundant life with those people in it.  Let us be thankful this day for God giving us those people in our life.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” — which is the first commandment with a promise. – Ephesians 6:1-2