Another School Year

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it…Proverbs 22:6.

The last few weeks I have seen numerous photos of children heading back to school…

Photos of children starting Pre-K…

Photos of children starting Kindergarten…

Actually, I have seen photos of children and teens of all ages as they head back to school for another year!

However, my heart jumped when my daughter-in-law sent me a picture of Graham’s first day of pre-school!

How could this be?  Wasn’t he just born?  How could he already be four years old…getting ready to start his second year of pre-school!

I’m not going deny it…tears came to my eyes as I looked at that sweet face holding the little chalk board sign!

A few days later, I saw a picture that my daughter had posted of her oldest son, Hudson, sitting in his class during his Pre-K orientation.  Again, tears came to my eyes as I thought of this precious little boy starting his second year of Pre-K also!

Hudson is also four years old and it seems like it was just yesterday that this precious little one was born during a blizzard…keeping Papa and Gammy from getting home that night!

Several other grandsons have been born the last four years and far too soon I will be seeing their photos posted as they start school in the near future!

I have to confess…I often just want to freeze time…and enjoy these little ones at their various stages!

And if I am completely honest…I like the idea of them being at home with their mama’s and daddy’s…safe and sound in their parents’ loving care!

However, I know that God has given us these precious children to have in homes for a season, so they greatest gift that we can give our children…our grandchildren…is to live our lives in such a way that we reflect Christ’s love!

Their little ears are listening to ever word we speak…

Their little eyes are watching every action we take…

And how many times have we heard our children or grandchildren repeating a phrase we just said…or imitating an action that we just performed?

So we need to ask ourselves…does every word we speak…does every action we take…glorify our Heavenly Father?

Is it something we want our children…our grandchildren…saying or doing?

Our words…our actions…need to teach them God’s ways!

God’s word says… Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it…Proverbs 22:6.

There will be numerous times over the next several years that our grandchildren will hear words that do not glorify God!

And unfortunately, there will be several occasions in which they will witness an action that does not honor our father as well!

But thankfully, these little ones have mamas and daddy’s that are teaching them the ways of the Lord, so as each grandchild continues to grow…they too can choose words and actions that are pleasing to God.

And prayerfully, because they have been taught at a young age what is pleasing to God…they too will choose to follow after God all the days of their lives!

As parents…as grandparents…we need to pray for our children daily!

Pray for God’s hand of protection to be upon them.

Pray for our children/grandchildren to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Pray for Godly people to be planted in their lives…people who will encourage them to follow Jesus!

Pray for them to hunger for God’s word…to hide it in their hearts!

Pray a hedge of protection around the entire family!

Become a prayer warrior that is willing to pray without ceasing!

And pray as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray!

As we love our families…our children…grandchildren…the greatest gift that we can give them is to pray for them daily!

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you for our children…our grandchildren…for family!  They are such a gift to us!  And because we are so thankful for the precious gift of family…we lift each family member to you…asking that you would wrap your Heavenly arms around each member…keeping them safe in your loving care!  Thank you Lord…that even though we love each of family members so much…you love them more!