GRANDPARENTS DAY... Sunday

Devotional for 9/7/14

The first Sunday after Labor Day was set aside in 1978 in the U.S. to honor

grandparents.  A woman named Marian McQuade is sometimes credited with being the founder.  She made it her mission to educate youth about the important historical contributions made by seniors and encouraged them to "adopt" someone as a grandparent for life.  It is celebrated in other countries on other days during the year.  It is not, as some believe, the greeting card industry's attempt to sell more cards!  The actual U.S. statute states the purpose is "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer".

The Bible puts it this way:  Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.  Proverbs 17:6 (NIV)  God delights in us honoring our elders and those who are in authority over us. But grandparents hold a special place of honor.  

Some people have had difficulties with family members - estranged relationships, absent parents, even abuse by grandparents.  In those cases we ask God to help with forgiveness and healing where able.  Others have lost their grandparents.  And some are losing them slowly as we speak.  Here is a beautiful piece about an aging grandparent, perhaps in a nursing home, called the Beatitudes for Friends of the Aged:

May we always remember to honor our grandparents either directly, by visiting, helping, and supporting them while they are here, or indirectly by living a life of Godly values.  May God help us in this task, forgive us when we fail, and help us to grow in our capacity to honor them and all those in our lives who are elderly.

written by Jan Andersen