This last weekend I attended a Writer’s conference in the Seattle, WA area and met Lydia Harris, author of Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting. It is a six-week Bible study book for grandparents, a good resource for your G@P group for the participants to read and then discuss at your meetings.

Lydia knows grandparenting is an exciting and important role. She shares a few things she wishes she had known before she became a grandparent. Her experience prompted her to write this Bible study to help you prepare your heart for grandparenting. Even if you have been a grandparent for some time, you can still prepare your heart to become a better grandparent in the days ahead.

The greatest instruction book God has given to prepare us for grandparenting is His Word. We read in Deuteronomy chapter five we are to “Love the Lord, keep His commandments, and impress them on our children. Talk about God’s commandments to them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Lydia Harris’s book Preparing My Heart for Grandparenting may give you some new insights into grandparenting. The book is available for purchase on her website at www.preparingmyheart.net.

However, God is waiting for us to ask how He wants us to practice grandparenting. Recently I was wondering what I could get my granddaughter for her eighth grade graduation. I asked God what would be a meaningful gift and shortly her mother called to ask if we would like to contribute to a gift that my granddaughter really wanted to have. I am always happy and surprised with the suggestions He gives me when I ask Him.

God wants us to grandparent with a purpose.

© Lillian Penner 2011