Just call me Grandpa Greg.
I was pretty blessed. I had three of my four grandparents well into my adult life. In fact, my Grandpa and Grandma Yoder became very close to our family. We spent many summer weekends up North at the cottage they built on Lake Huron. And it continues to be one of our family’s favorite vacation spots. While I was blessed, many families don’t have any grandparents. Let me encourage you to become the neighborhood grandparent. Do something special for those little kiddos next door or across the street. Give them candy, play games, or do some special projects with them just like grandparents do. And tell them, “You can call me Grandpa Greg” (or whatever your name happens to be). Maybe you’ll be blessed as Grandma Sonja in Wisconsin was when she got to lead her neighborhood granddaughter to Jesus.
We've lost five family members in three years
How do you comfort your non-Christian adult kids in times of grief?
Same-sex relationships in my Christmas channel?
Were you surprised while watching a Christmas movie with your kids?
There's one idol my family struggles with
Is screentime a struggle in your family too?
I want to teach my kids the TRUE gift of Christmas
I have to say SOMETHING
Are you watching and warning your kids, especially your adult kids?
This isn’t a good time of year for some.
You’ve heard the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” right? It’s true for some, but not for others—especially for those divorced or for some foster parents. It can be terribly lonely. As a stepparent, it was the most difficult time of year for my wife and me. We had to share the holiday. One year we’d have Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, and the next we’d have just the last part of Christmas Day. You can’t imagine the stress on the kids, through no fault of their own. If you’re a stepparent, remember, you’re stronger than your kids. Make it as positive as you can. Cherish the time you DO have and make the every-other-year traditions ones that they’ll remember. If you’re not a stepparent, pray for families who are. They need it.
What night of the week is your family night?
Modern conveniences like cell phones, computers, and tablets are supposed to give us more leisure time, right? But, in reality, technology simply raises everyone’s expectations for speed and availability. What about family time—at least one night a week that we’re collecting cell phones and tablets and taking time to spend with our families? Let me suggest that we all set a night and time to play board games or Uno or something else that will force us to talk and have fun. If we don’t schedule it, it’s just hit or miss. Agree on a game, share memories, talk about all kinds of things—including your favorite Bible story and why. Make sure, though, that food is a part of it. Dads, you be in charge. You’ll be glad you did.
Let’s learn a lesson from Jason Bourne.
We men don’t like to move into uncomfortable situations. We don’t like to look silly or embarrassed. We’d much rather watch TV than move toward the needs of our wives and kids. We’re passive. That’s nothing new. Genesis 3:6 says that Adam was with Eve when she disobeyed God. But, instead of helping his wife resist temptation, he joined her in eating the forbidden fruit. Men, we need to be like Jason Bourne. When there’s a problem, Bourne instinctively got after it. Those of us who have the indwelling Spirit of God should have the courage and faith to get the Jason Bourne look on our faces and move toward the need—especially the need in our families.
What are you thankful for?
Thanksgiving! It’s one of my favorite holidays of the year. It’s celebrated in many countries. Here in the U.S., it’s the fourth Thursday in November. As a parent, what are you thankful for? I’d love to hear your Thanksgiving comments, and you can post them at ParentMinute.org. I thought I would tell you what I’m thankful for this year. First, I’m thankful that I’m not only a parent, but a stepparent and an adoptive parent. I’m thankful that each of my kids have taught me lessons that have forced me to look to God for guidance. And I’m thankful that, through adoption, God has allowed me to see a small glimpse of how He sees me as an adopted child of His.