Her children rise and call her blessed… (Prov. 31:28)

There are grandmothers, and there are grand mothers.

It doesn’t require a PhD to realize that were it not for the millions of faithful grandmothers in our lives who have graciously modeled Christlikeness to their grandchildren and guarded the truth, there would be considerably fewer of us who now know and follow Christ. I personally know dozens of men and women who are following Christ because of a grandmother.

Such women truly deserve the name Grand mother. Grandmothers are plentiful, but grand mothers, less so. They are those women with a wonderful grandness of soul and character, which sets them apart from all others.

It is to these grand mothers I especially want to pay honor and tribute as Mother’s Day approaches. You are women who have endured the pain of childbirth, as well as the joys and heartaches of child-rearing, and now abide in the spacious calm of grace and a quiet energy that rests in the security of who you are as a child of God. You live knowing you have nothing to prove, yet your unconditional love proves everything that needs proving.

True, there are young mothers who could be described as grand mothers as well. They live life with a largeness of spirit than is greater than most. Still, I believe that most grand mothers are born out of a life purified in the repeated fires of trial, failure, discouragement and pain. They have lived long enough to learn that life is stronger than death. They no longer fear death or pain because they live closer to both the Source of life, and the promise of life where every tear will be wiped away.

As a grand mother, you have both given birth to new life once conceived in your own womb, and faithfully and lovingly poured yourself into your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters so they might find a new life conceived solely by faith in the Gospel of Christ. You have built your home with wisdom and love, nurtured it with grace, and preserved it with faith… and now, another generation is determined to follow in your footsteps.

You are, indeed, a GRAND mother, whose children and grandchildren rise up and call you “blessed”! And, so do I… along with all those who have been blessed by your life with us.

Happy GRAND Mothers’ Day!