When I was growing up, I lived next to my Grandmother Gorton.  I vaguely remember her taking care of me when my dad went to work and my mom was teaching school.  What I remember the most were snow days.

On snow days when the roads were too dangerous to drive the school buses, the schools would call off school for the day or two and I would be thrilled.  I didn’t have to go to school, but more importantly, I would get to go over to my grandma’s house and have her dote on me all day long.  I mean all day long.

I would get over to her house early in the morning for her to squeeze me a fresh glass of orange juice followed by Swedish pancakes smothered in maple syrup and crispy bacon. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  I didn’t have to clean up as she did that chore.  Then came the best part.

We would play games all day.  Monopoly.  Canasta.  Hearts.  Spades.  You name it we played it.  ALL DAY.  She was not one of those grandmothers who would let you win.  I had to win fair and square.  She treated me like a king and I loved it.

An incident a couple of Sundays ago reminded me of my memories of my grandmother.  We had gone over to my daughters house to cook them a breakfast and as I turned around I saw Nadine interacting with our grandson.

She was working with Brayden in having him stir the eggs and fix scrambled eggs.  She was valuing him just like my grandmother did to me.

In II Timothy 1, Paul communicated the importance of family in developing our perspective in the world.  He was indicating that Timothy’s faith was developed in the interaction he had with his grandmother as well as with his mother.  “That precious memory triggers another:  your honest faith–and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you.”

We as grandparents and parents have the privilege of positively impacting our children and grandchildren every time we interact with them.  It is a real privilege of affecting the next generation with principles and truths of God and His love.

On this journey, be aware of the people you come in contact with today and see that interaction as one that could change the direction and mindset of the person we touch.