The birth of a first grandchild is one of the greatest moments of life. You remember that moment—a moment when you awoke to the reality that grandparent was not a four-letter word! In fact, at that moment it felt like nothing could be grander.

Now that you’ve been a grandparent for a while, you may have discovered something else—being a grandparent does not always feel so grand. When relationships with one or both parents of your grandchildren feel more grueling than grand, being a grandparent can produce a lot of disappointment. When grandchildren are not taught manners and basic courtesy at home, a three day visit at grandma and grandpa’s can feel more like a train wreck than a grand time. Millions of other grandparents unexpectedly find themselves caught in the sobering reality of assuming the role of full time “parent” for one or more grandchildren for many different reasons. Whatever your situation I suspect the question sometimes rolls around in your mind, “Will I ever know the grand of grandparenting again?”

At the risk of sounding naïve, I believe the answer is “yes”. How is it possible when circumstances seem so impossible? The first step is a step back where you can fix your eyes on the One who is still Sovereign and who still holds your future and your grandchildren’s future in His hands. It’s easy to allow yourself to live only in the moment as the only reality you will ever know. Learn to keep your eyes on Jesus and press on in the face of the storm because of the hope and joy set before you. Believe that God is in the business of doing amazing things beyond what we can imagine. He wants to do the unimaginable, not only in your life, but in your grandchildren’s lives. You may be the instrument through which those amazing things will be accomplished. Remember to keep your head up and your eyes focused on Christ.

In the process of learning to focus on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, I have discovered five keys to restoring and preserving the grand in grandparenting (or any other role of your lives) no matter what life may throw at you. Over the next few weeks I invite you to explore with me the significance of these five keys for unlocking the resources God has provided for grandparents. I also urge you to invite others to join us in this series, and to share your own stories and experiences so others may share in the blessing.

GRANDPAUSE: God does not do anything with us, only through us. -Oswald Chambers