Being a grandparent is such a gift. Just the other day, I stopped by an event at my former church to see my oldest son, and I ran into a dear friend who is also a grandparent to an 18-month-old. For about 15 minutes, we just swapped stories about how we’ve lost our minds and didn’t realize the depth of love we feel for these wonderful little people. She told me how she bought a sweatsuit just because her grandson had one, and how her husband indulges their son and grandson in ways he would never do for himself. I shared how I heard about someone sending mail to their grandchild, and so I did the same—sending my granddaughter a bike on a Tuesday.

What is wrong with us? LOL! Nothing’s wrong; we just have an unconditional love for our grandchildren—and can send them home afterward for our kids to do all the heavy lifting like we did for them. Amen!

I know that not everyone who finds themselves in the role of grandparent shares these same sentiments. Many are shouldering the responsibility of raising their grandchildren due to their children’s decisions. For them, it’s round two, three, four, or even five. They wake up every day, hoping their children will make better choices, all while trying to give their grandchildren the best chance to thrive.

There’s also another group of grandparents—those who don’t get to see their grandchildren at all. The reasons vary: distance, estrangement with their children, a lack of desire to be involved, or perhaps they’re unaware that they’re grandparents at all.

This role as a grandparent has caused me to slow down and reflect on the opportunity we have to support each other in raising and developing our children. Especially as followers of Jesus Christ, we can foster the kind of community that Jesus grew up in. Think about this moment captured in Luke 2:41-46:

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

Jesus’ mother and stepfather didn’t miss him initially because they assumed he was with the other travelers. When he didn’t show up, they checked with relatives and friends and eventually found him among religious leaders. This passage shows the importance of community in a child’s life. The people around them will profoundly impact their path. Who are our children traveling with? Who are their friends? Who are they listening to? The Bible reminds us:

“In a multitude of counselors, there is safety.” — Proverbs 11:14
“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” — 1 Corinthians 15:33

The people surrounding our children inform their safety, values, and habits. If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you desire a world where everyone and everything is treated with dignity, respect, and care. I encourage you to lean into building the kind of community that Jesus knew. Check in on friends to see how they’re doing. Call that family member you know is overwhelmed. If you have the capacity, host a playdate. Sponsor an outing for a couple in need. Stop by and simply sit and listen to a grandparent who’s raising grandchildren. Even the smallest gesture done in love brings joy to Jesus.

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” — 1 Corinthians 5:14-15

As a grandparent, the love I have for Madison and Gia compels me to serve them, and the source of that love is Jesus. Our children and our world need us to live not for ourselves, but to let the love of Jesus move us to be loving travelers, relatives, friends, and Christians. Let’s journey together to create a community where love is shared, values are nurtured, and lives are changed.