Written by Wayne Rice, Host of our Legacy Grandparenting Podcast
“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord continue to look upon you with favor and give you peace. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
Rick is a grandfather who prays this prayer of blessing over his grandchildren whenever he has the opportunity. He places his hands on their heads and uses the same words each time. His grandchildren know that they are blessed!
Did you know that your grandchildren want your blessing? They really do. You don’t have to say a prayer over your grandchildren when you bless them (although that’s not a bad idea!).
If you really want to bless your family, follow these five easy-to-remember steps:
B – Be There for Them. Children spell love T-I-M-E, so give your grandkids plenty of it. Learn how to create enough margin in your life to be present in their lives regularly and consistently.
L – Listen to Them. Remember that listening is the language of love. When we give children (or teens) our attention, listening with both ears, we give them a blessing that no one else can give.
E – Encourage Them. Bless your grandchildren with affirmation. Be generous with praise and “catch them in the act of doing something good.” Children thrive when they know that their parents or grandparents are crazy about them.
S – Speak the Truth in Love. Teach your grandchildren what they need to know. Share your life with them as well as God’s Word. Tell them your stories. Kids need to know that you care about them enough to give them the guidance and direction they need. If they don’t get it from you, they’ll get it from somewhere else. Remember that the first three (B-L-E) win you the opportunity to be heard.
S – Support Them with Grace and Forgiveness. Be the kind of grandparent that Jesus described in His story of the lost (prodigal) son. Your grandchildren will undoubtedly disappoint you and make mistakes along the way. Bless them with grace and forgiveness.
In his short story “The Capitol of the World,” Ernest Hemingway tells the story of a Spanish father and his teenage son. The relationship between this father and son became strained and eventually shattered. When the rebellious son—whose name was Paco—a common Spanish name—ran away from home, his father began a long and arduous search to find him. As a last resort, the exhausted father placed an ad in a Madrid newspaper, hoping that his son would see the ad and respond to it. The ad read,
Dear Paco, please meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. Love, Papa.
As Hemingway tells the story, the next day at noon, in front of the newspaper office, there were 800 Pacos, all seeking forgiveness from their fathers. How do you want to be a blessing to your grandchildren this week? There are as many ways to do it as there are Pacos in Spain.
