“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring
them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
– Ephesians 6:4

How well we can recall the previous verses of Ephesians?

Chapter 6: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother” [ed: which is the first commandment with a promise] that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Eph. 6:1-3)

This verse applies to grandparents as well, especially those of us who spend a lot of time alone with them. But do you sometimes use rules with your grandkids that carry over from your own childhood? These rules make absolutely no sense to you, but you had to follow them so you make your own grandkids  follow them.

Let me give you an example: When my kids were little, my dad had lots of crazy rules about swimming in his pool, or playing in his yard. “No water balloons” was one of them.  It is so ingrained in me that I put a rule out for my grandkids of no water balloons.  But then I asked myself “why?”  I couldn’t come up with a good answer. And as I read this verse I felt the Lord speak to my heart…Was this rule that had no real reason behind it exasperating my grandkids and hindering our time together? In the end, I rescinded the rule and now we have a ball in the summer, using water balloons while in the pool!

I had to take a long, careful look at some of my rules and ask myself truthfully if they needed changing. Do our grandkids need rules? Do they need boundaries and limits? You bet! But be sure that they are fair and reasonable. While you do want order when they come and visit, you also want to home to be a refuge and place of fun. After all , we aren’t their parents. We are a support system. Make your home a haven!

~*~

By Patti Chadwick