"O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come." Psalm 71:17-18
As believers, we have an obligation to fulfill. The Lord blessed me with faithfilled parents and grandparents and the training I received in my youth has endowed me with a responsibility to my children and grandchildren to teach them about the Lord Jesus.
As I sit here today, I have several old pictures to remind me of just how far my grandchildren have come. They were babies in these photos and today they are young adults trying to make their way in the world. It's a difficult and different world compared to the one in the photo. So many changes in morality within our society today and they have to cope with these changes in ways far removed from the society that I had to deal with at their age.
How can I, as a parent and grandparent declare God's power to them in a way that they will understand? I have been told by my son that I can be "preachy" at times and I know that to be true. But the Lord Jesus has been faithful to me all the years of my life and it's important that I share His faithfulness with them. One thing I know for sure, God hasn't changed, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Since He has protected me and His Spirit has guided me through my 71 years, I can depend on Him to continue guiding me.
I look for opportunities with my children and grandchildren to declare God's faithfulness. Whenever I can find an opening in our conversations to share my testimony, I do so. It's like sowing seeds, not knowing if they will ever grow and mature, but sowing none-the-less. After all, it's up to God's Spirit to draw them closer to Him.
Now that I am old and grayheaded, I often remember the things my parents shared with me about His faithfulness to them. The way He provided for them financially when times were particularly hard, the way He comforted them when death took loved ones from them, the way He led them into family situations which were stressful and turned those situations around for their good. At the time they shared these things, I didn't understand completely, but looking back, I can appreciate what they were trying to teach me.
That is what I can pray for my children and grandchildren, that the seeds I plant today will grow to fruition in the future. Since God is faithful and He longs for everyone to know Him, I'm sure He will hear my prayers and draw my loved ones with His lovingkindness into His eternal kingdom.
