Praying Across the Miles

^“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”  Deuteronomy 6:6,7

As a grandmother of 9 very special little gifts, I realize that these verses from Deuteronomy are both relevant and applicable to the relationship that I have with my grandchildren. This became abundantly clear to me again last Christmas as we received family Christmas Cards with pictures of families all together or with all the grandchildren in pictures with their grandparents.  How this grandmother’s heart longs to have her family altogether in one place, but it’s not to be.

So how do I do this in a practical way when my grandchildren are literally spread out all over the North American continent? The most important impact I can have on their lives is through prayer, daily praying for each grandchild by name, praying specific scriptures for them just as I prayed for their parents a generation before. And when the occasion presents itself, whether in person or online, I try to let them know that they are in my thoughts and prayers daily, whether they are near, living here in the same city as we do, or far away.

I not only pray for them, but with them when we are together. I have personally chosen to daily find things to be thankful for, and so I ask them what they are thankful for that day. Some find it easier to think of something, but with each one we search through the memories of the day to find something.  In this way I model that heart of gladness and giving thanks in all things that scripture teaches us we are to have.

My husband is a storyteller, and so when the grandchildren are here for the evening or overnight, they get to hear his stories. With modern technology, he can also tell the far-away grands stories, which are a highlight for them as well. He weaves in scripture and teaches about the character traits that the bible tells us are important. I don’t tell stories, but I can read to them and have on occasion given them the same books that we have here at our house so they can have their own copy to look at as I read.

How can you teach your children or grandchildren what the Lord has commanded you?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift of our family, both our children and our grandchildren. We pray that they would be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all knowledge and understanding, so that they would walk in a manner worthy of You. Amen.