I have a confession to make. I was the child who gave the darkest of nightmares to my parents and grandparents. I started drinking alcohol and using drugs when I was just a twelve-year-old girl. After my father, a preacher, died of cancer, I spiraled down even further and became a true alcoholic and a drug addict. Despite my mother’s pleading on her deathbed, I still couldn’t break my addictions. As often happens, eventually my addictions left me homeless and my unlawful behavior landed me in jail.
However, in God’s infinite and amazing mercy, he persistently pursued me and eventually, with my “yes”, he saved me. That “yes” has changed my life forever.
My past experiences with alcohol and drugs have made me eager to help my grandchildren (and now great grandchildren) avoid the path that I had taken.
I start passing on my faith when they are very young! I teach my grandchildren, when they first start to talk, to pray just one word: “Jesus!” We build on that foundation over time.
Later they learn the story of the “Little Drummer Boy.” It’s a wonderful children’s story put to song: The boy had no kingly gifts to offer, but he gave what he did best, his drumming. I emphasize that when we offer our best to God, he smiles.
Next when my grandkids are old enough to play games, I help them master Bible Trivia or play memory-verse relay games together. I reward them with sweet treats, money, cooking together, or their choice of restaurants. Passing on our faith needs to be fun when grandchildren are young.
When they are old enough to understand, I tell them my life story. The sad and painful story of my addictions, lawbreaking, and serious sin – and then the story of my own divine intervention: how God saved me, how he led me to marry the right man, and how he gave me a huge family to love. I make sure they understand that I am living proof that they don’t need to throw away many years of their life and endure the tremendous pain of addiction like I did. My life’s story is an open book, on purpose and for a purpose. Telling them about my struggles has often led them to share some of their own struggles and deep concerns with me.
Whatever age my grandchildren are, whether I see them in person or on FaceTime, I tell them that I am praying for them. I also lovingly remind them how important having a prayer life is. Their relationship with God is the only thing that no one else can ever take away from them. I also ask them to pray for me as I need their prayers too.
I have experienced the amazing love and marvelous light of God’s grace in my life and I am not afraid to share it! I am a dedicated, strategic, and joyful grandparent with a story to tell. I have shared God’s light with my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren – and now you!
What’s your story?
Martha Myles-Anderson has 26 grandkids and 16 great-grandkids with another one on the way. She is a minister at Solid Rock Full Gospel Baptist Church in Lansing, Michigan.