Packed with practical tips and biblical wisdom, this guide to grandparenting has plenty to offer, says our reviewer
The Grandparents’ Guide to Passing on Faith is an excellent book. As you would expect from Scripture Union, the layout is attractive, easy to read, with good content, reflections and questions. The graphics are good and the photographs carefully chosen and heart-warming. All this makes for a very easy worthwhile read and a book you will want to go back to.
Even the Foreword is excellent – J. John gives his personal reflections on parenting and grandparenting (Prophet, Priest, King). It is worth getting the book just for that. Gold.
There are helpful sections (not chapters), as you would expect, on technology, faith and praying with your grandchildren. But there are also sensitive sections on special needs, other faiths, teenagers, relating to your adult child, blended families and caring for yourself as a grandparent – a surprising and welcome addition.
If you have ever wondered what is meant by Generations X, Y and Z (and others), the book includes a very helpful chart explaining these terms and the differing characteristics of each generation. The research about Christian grandparents is an interesting read, while a child’s development through the years is also clearly depicted. At this point, the reader might be tempted to wonder if the book shouldn’t be titled 7 Charts for Grandparents to Understand Grandchildren!
There is comprehensive advice on choosing a Bible for your grandchild (more nice pictures), whether a children’s or youth Bible, as well as guidance on how to read the Bible and bring it to life with your grandchildren. Act it out. Draw pictures.
Many readers may find that the most enduring part of the book is the encouragement to ask good questions that help grandchildren grow in their faith, nurture their curiosity and understand the brokenness of the world around them. One example is: “I wonder what God smiled at today?”
There is real wisdom here in how best to handle your own children and to work with them in the art of grandparenting: follow their lead, respect them as parents, ask about boundaries, expectations, ask permission to take grandchildren to church, to pray with them, being their greatest cheerleaders and serving them well. A string of pearls for the treasure chest.
Then of course there is the great challenge for grandparents to introduce grandchildren to “the God who does things”. There is more encouragement here to share personal stories and testimonies about answered prayer and to pass these on. Introduce them to the God who cares and is active. There are so many helpful tips, for examlple, don’t just wait for the bed-time questions, initiate some.
For those who might be thinking “I am not a grandparent, this book is not for me” there is a beautiful shock in store – you can be a spiritual grandparent. Encourage the young ones you know, take an interest in them and pray for them.
There are lots of gems to be collected here to put in your grandparent treasure chest: pray for their future spouse, celebrate milestones with bookmarks, stars or stones, be fully present, write them a letter, send it in the post, send voicenotes. Above all – pray. So many helpful and creative thoughts. And the lay out of the book lends itself to going back over the material which is easy to find.
At times it can feel a little prescriptive, a bit like a textbook (Am I going to be marked at the end?). But a great read, an encouraging read, from start to finish. With homework.
