About
Tina Houser presents the message that your greatest heirloom, the greatest treasure you can bequeath to you grandkids, is the life-stories and faith lessons you have learned.
This doesn't mean that you sit your grandkids down whenever you see them and start expounding your message. Rather, this should be natural and fun. I don't know how many times my own grandkids have asked me to tell them a story. And they love stories of their family.
So tell them stories of their own parents when they were young. Tell about your mishaps and mistakes (especially if they are fun ones) plus your achievements and successes.. Tell them about a time past and almost forgotten, when computers and handheld devices were unheard of, a time when TV came in black and white and milk was delivered.
But woven into the fabric of the stories should be the message of God's love, regardless of the era, and the value of your faith in Christ throughout your life. That is a story worth telling- a message worth passing on.
Important Points to Remember
While Tina encourages you to keep the focus on faith-building during your precious time with your grandkids, she also includes valuable tips and hints. She suggests that you keep sticky notes handy and write down any ideas and story suggestions- those times when God stepped in to change your life. Then you will be prepared if and when the opportunity to share a story presents itself.
Remember the age and attention span of your grandkids and keep your stories short and sweet for little ones. They'll certainly ask for more if it's fun. Present your stories in a positive light and be honest and authentic. If you can't think of any faith story ideas, use objects as story starters. For example, a piece of jewellery or clothing, an old photo or a piece of furniture can grab a child's attention and help present a faith story in a way that will be remembered.
The book concludes with some fun activities that you can enjoy with your grandchildren- activities that will help you connect and build memories together. Tina Houser also lists some focus words that will encourage you to become a better grandparent.
My Personal Takeaways
I come from a long line of story-tellers and readers so this book certainly resonates with me. I'm also reminded of the times in Scripture when God's people are told to share the amazing stories of God's care and provision: 'Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.'
I appreciate the focus words that Tina lists to encourage you to become a better grandparent, too: because, experiences, together, watch, with.
We've been told that we remember 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see and 80% of what we experience. So these focus words remind me to build experiences into my short time with my grandkids- do things together, have fun with them, create and enjoy fun snacks together, visit special places. I am all too aware that my grandchildren are growing up fast and my time is limited.
