Dillon Community Church

I’ve often wondered what it would be like to have grandchildren and how it would be fun to live the grandparent mantra of “spoil the kids and then let their parents deal with the aftermath.” Now that I am a grandparent, something inside me just says that would be wrong. Speaking in a somewhat modified version of the old SNL church lady “Could it be the Holy Spirit, maybe?” While the church lady parody may have been offensive to some, maybe the original statement (referring to Satan) was correct.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis notes with regard to personal fondness that “For example, the doting mother (or grandparent) may be tempted by natural affection to ‘spoil’ her child; that is, to gratify her (their) own affectionate impulses at the expense of the child’s real happiness later on.” Sure, we love to love our grandkids, but we don’t “spoil” them indiscriminately.  Real happiness for our grandkids will not come from gifts like toys and TV, but from knowing there is a God who loves them and will always love them.

Grandparents provide a sense of past and can help (with their parents) guide their grandchildren to a future that includes Jesus and a love for God and others. Just like our own children, we can work to provide our grandchildren with an inheritance in faith, and a love for Christ. In this Christmas season, let us remember that the greatest gift we can give our children and grandchildren, and our greatest responsibility, is to introduce them to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Enjoy Christmas with your family!

Rob Strode,  elder

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