National Grandparents Day: Make it a Day of Prayer

How Are You Celebrating Grandparents Day?

Did you know that there is actually a National Grandparents Day? I’ve been a Grammie for almost fifteen years and we’ve never acknowledged this special day in our family. When I told my daughter it was on September 8th this year, she laughed. I said: No, seriously there is a Grandparents Day. Her response: You aren’t expecting a gift are you? (That made me laugh)

Have you been planning a celebration on September 8th for your grandparents or your children’s grandparents? Admittedly, Grandparents Day certainly doesn’t get the recognition of Mothers Day or Fathers Day, but for those of us who are grandparents, we know what a blessing it is to have grandchildren…and that’s celebration enough for me!

Most grandparents would agree that we don’t need more gifts—our grandchildren are the best gifts of all. But we could consider giving our grandchildren a gift on Grandparents Day—the timeless gift of prayer.

I LOVE being a grandparent—God saved the best for last. My husband, Dave, and I have eleven precious grandchildren living in various states—only three live close to us. We plan our schedule around spending time with each grandchild, which might only be once a year for those who live far away. Even when I can’t be with the grandchildren physically, I’m praying for each of my eleven sweethearts every morning in my quiet time and visibly see God at work in their lives.

Give Our Grandkids the Gift of Prayer

My author friend, Lillian Penner, is the National Prayer Coordinator for the Christian Grandparenting Network, and she suggests that grandparents celebrate National Grandparents Day by praying as a nation for our grandchildren. I asked Lillian to tell me more:

Our grandchildren are living in a desperate moral and spiritual climate and navigating in a world hostile to truth. Satan has launched an aggressive attack on our families, schools, and nation to desensitize our children to truth and righteousness. Perhaps at no other time in our history is a call to prayer for our grandchildren more urgently required than it is today.

The mission of the Christian Grandparenting Network (CGN) is effective grandparenting—intentionally assisting our children and grandchildren to know and follow Christ wholeheartedly.

A Senate proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 established an official United States National Grandparents Day, and CGN is asking grandparents all over the world to unite in prayer for their grandchildren on this year’s National Grandparents Day, September 8, 2013.

Let the Grandkids Know You’re Praying

Three of our grandkids saw Praying God’s Will for Your Grandchildren by my quiet time chair and that provided the opportunity to share that Grammie prays for them and their cousins every day. I keep a picture of each of the grandkids in this book and look at their sweet faces while I’m praying. I also journal to the Lord on their behalf.

The Christian Grandparenting Network suggests sending each grandchild a card on National Grandparents Day to let the grandchild know you’re praying for him or her. What a blessing for grandchildren to learn that we love them so much, that on our special day, and every day, we give them the best gift of all—prayer.

Grandparenting through Difficulties

Not all grandparents have a good relationship with their children and grandchildren, but regardless of the circumstances, you can always pray for them. In Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ, Renee Gray-Wilburn and Dianne E. Butts share ways to be an involved grandparent through prayer. Here’s how one grandmother in the book prays for her grandchildren, even when their mother is not supportive:

There was a time Jennifer [her daughter] sought God, but over the years, she's drifted away and become skeptical of all things Christian...I've always determined not to give up on my children’s or grandchildren’s salvation, knowing there's no distance in the spirit. I know my prayers can affect them no matter how far apart we live. One way I've always prayed for my grandchildren is that God would give them a spiritual hunger...Another way I've prayed for my grandkids is for God to send other believers into their lives to influence them for Christ.

Standing in the Gap for the Next Generation

Will you “Stand in the Gap” with grandparents worldwide, and me, on Sunday September 8, 2013 to pray that the next generation may walk in the truth? To learn more:

• “Like” The Grandparenting Day of Prayer Facebook fan page.
• Lillian Penner’s Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren.
• For additional information and resources go to www.gocgn.com or contact Lillian Penner at lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net.

Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;
parents are the pride of their children.—Proverbs 17:6 NLT

Janet Thompson, the founder of Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries, is an international speaker and award-winning author of 17 books including Face-to-Face with Elizabeth and Mary: From Generation to Generation, Face-to-Face with Lois and Eunice: Nurturing Faith in Your Family, and Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents.

Grammie Janet and Grampa Dave love praying for their eleven grandchildren and teaching them about Jesus. Visit Janet at:

www.womantowomanmentoring.com
www.facebook.com/Janetthompson.authorspeaker
Twitter.com/AHWministries
Pinterest.com/thompsonjanet

Publication date: September 6, 2013