As has become a tradition at our home, our grandson plays a huge role in transforming our house into an exuberant display of Christmas greenery, ornaments, blinking lights, and so much more. It struck me how this decoration overabundance is replete with family memories spanning at least four generations.
The carved wooden trio of gingerbread men made by my brother reminded me of long-ago years when our dad taught him how to use carpentry tools. A set of ornaments listing attributes of Christ caused me to pray for my sister, who sent them to me as a gift one year.
My husband expressed delight when he unwrapped the toy vehicles his father made more than 50 years ago when he was a high school shop teacher. Then, holding his copy in hand, my husband reminisced about the college professor who read the classic, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, by Dylan Thomas to his students each year during this season.
Some of the most fetching moments occurred when my 10-year-old grandson dug through boxes filled with bubble-wrapped contents to find the things most dear to him. The first thing out of the box was the animated reindeer that plays a series of scratchy Christmas melodies as it nods its head. Following close behind came the Chihuahua that sings a Spanish version of “Where is Santa Claus” while shaking maracas. My grandson lined the Christmas stockings along the fireplace wall and hung his personal collection of hand-made ornaments on the tree, beginning with the one he made while attending preschool.
It appears our efforts to intentionally instruct our grandson about Jesus are making a lasting impression. When I saw him carefully handling the soft-sided nativity set we found during his toddler years, his comment, “We need to set this up,” touched my heart. He then reminded us that part of our Christmas celebration is when he reads the 24 verses in his annual Chocolate Advent Calendar about the birth of Jesus. Any doubts about the impact we as grandparents are having on his faith were dispelled in that moment.
“Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old
they will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
We are in the midst of reading the Book of Luke, 24 chapters through the first 24 days of December, the same way we did last year. It is a future memory and another tradition I hope our grandson will carry on long after we are gone. I am reminded that God faithfully fulfills His promises when we obey His command to teach future generations about Jesus.
Be encouraged to make faith-filled memories with your grandchildren, even if you do not see immediate results. Their minds are absorbing everything that you say and do. You may be delighted someday to see how God responds to your efforts.
BarbHowe.org 