“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11)

Jesi never imagined in her wildest dreams she and her husband would one day be raising their grandson. Suddenly their entire framework for what grandparents are supposed to be and do went out the window. Is this really what God wanted for their lives?

Jesi’s story is not an isolated one. More than eight million grandchildren in this country are being raised by their grandparents (full time or part time) according to a report by Dr. Arthur Kornhaber of The Grandparent Foundation. That’s nearly one out of every ten children in this country being raised by a grandparent.

For those who find themselves in this position, life really does get rearranged. Re-inserted into a parenting role feels very different than the typical grandparenting role. But is it an either-or situation? Not entirely, if you have a bigger view of what it means to be a grandparent. Grandparenting is not about spoiling our grandkids and sending them home. That may be something we do from time to time, but it is not what grandparenting ought to be about. Grandparents are just as responsible to speak truth and life into their lives. Those who are raising their grandchildren have an opportunity to do that on a more consistent basis.

Jesi says it this way: “We recognize that we are exactly where we are supposed to be in this season of our lives. It may not be where we thought we would be, but it is where He wants us. We have an amazing opportunity to speak Life into these little lives.” Whether you’re raising your grandchildren like Jesi or having to accept a long distance relationship, the objective is the same—use the opportunities God has given us to speak into their lives Life with a capital ‘L’.

I encourage you to read Jesi’s story, Life Rearranged. Here is a link to her story. Share it with others you know who are in similar situations. God is not willing that any of His little ones should perish. Neither should we.