Last week we noted that every heritage includes spiritual, emotional, and social elements. (If you didn’t read that post, let me encourage you to pop over and read it before continuing. You can click HERE to read.)
Containing these elements, we determined that each heritage can be thought of as a three-strand cord. Tightly intertwined, each element of the cord greatly influences the other two. None can be wholly separated from the others. Neither can one stand alone. Yet, I think it is extremely important that we clearly understand the meaning and impact of each. So, over the next three weeks, we will examine them one by one.
The Spiritual Strand
Recall that we defined the spiritual strand as the process whereby parents and grandparents model and reinforce the unseen realities of the spiritual life.
This strand seems to be the least tangible of the three. Emotions can be felt, and their results seen. Social behavior can be reacted to and observed. However, spiritual progress is often more difficult to observe and measure. Its impact is less obvious. Yet, this strand is first and foremost of the three.
We are, above all else, spiritual beings. Therefore, our grandchildren’s sense of identity and purpose depends largely upon spiritual understanding and connection. No heritage is complete, or healthy, unless it has been built upon a spiritual foundation.
The Gospel
We want our grandchildren to be happy and healthy. But grandparenting is not primarily about happiness and health. It is mainly about passing a rich heritage of faith in Christ to the generations coming behind us.
Grandparenting is about teaching God’s truth to our grandchildren. It’s about giving testimony to the goodness and greatness of God. And it’s about living a life shaped by the Gospel.
In his book, Grandparenting, Josh Mulvihill states, “Grandparenting is the artery that carries the Gospel to future generations.” This is the spiritual strand.
Building the Legacy
As we work to intentionally and diligently build a legacy worth leaving, there are a few things we need to keep in mind when it comes to the spiritual strand.
First, we must know that building a spiritual legacy is a process. It is not an event. A spiritual legacy cannot be gifted in a day. It is built through years of consistent, sacrificial, and committed effort. It comes at a price.
Second, a spiritual legacy cannot be mandated. It must be modeled. We must keep in mind that the unseen realities of the spiritual life are more caught than taught; more about what we do than what we say. We must understand the importance of modeling when it comes to this strand. It is essential that our grandchildren observe the spiritual life as part of normal living in routine moments of life.
Third, as stated above, the spiritual element of the three-strand cord simply cannot be compartmentalized or extracted from the rest of life. Foundational principles govern our existence and are part of the spiritual life of all humanity. Unseen, we have an intuitive awareness that there is more to life than what we see. This strand helps prepare our grandchildren to clearly recognize the unseen realities of the spiritual life.
A Strong Spiritual Legacy
Before we wrap up our look at the spiritual strand, I think it might be helpful to share a few ideas for how you can more effectively work to build this strand of the three-cord heritage.
- Begin by making time for personal assessment. What is your current view of God? To pass a strong spiritual legacy, it is important that you view God as personal and caring. You must see Him as someone who is to be loved and respected.
- Make spiritual activities a routine aspect of life. Pray for and with your grandchildren. Read the Bible together. Serve together. When/if possible, attend church with them.
- Don’t shy away from or ignore the unseen realities happening all around you. Instead, work to acknowledge and reinforce them.
- Talk about spiritual issues as a means of reinforcing spiritual commitments.
- Be willing to have the hard discussions with your grandchildren. Not judging or condemning, but always pointing them to the truth of God’s Word.
- Incorporate spiritual principles into your everyday, routine, mundane living. Let your grandchildren observe you living it.
