Nearing Home by Billy Graham (e book reader free TXT) 📕

making on those watching from afar. Over the years countless others have influenced me and changed me by the examples of their lives—although I am sure they were unaware of it. The same has probably been true of people in your life. Our greatest impact on others often comes not from what we say but from what we do.

Our Greatest Hope

What is your greatest hope for your children and grandchildren (and for others outside your family who are part of the next generation)? Is it that they will become men and women of compassion, honesty, morality, responsibility, selflessness, loyalty, discipline, and sacrifice? Your hope should be that they will become men and women of faith, trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior and seeking to follow Him as the Master of their lives every day.

While we cannot make this decision for others, we can show them the way by being an example of Christ’s love and of His power to transform every life that is submitted to Him.

A word of caution, however, is in order here. We cannot pretend to be something we are not; a Christlike character cannot be faked. If Christ is not real to us or if we haven’t learned to walk with Him and submit our lives to Him every day, then our spiritual impact on those who follow us will be far less than it might have been. Young people are very sensitive to hypocrisy; if they sense it in us, they will dismiss our pretenses and pay no attention to our advice. On the other hand, if they can sense our faith is sincere and our love is authentic, then they will respect us and take us seriously (even when they know we are not perfect).

This is why it is important to begin building our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ now, instead of waiting until it is too late and the problems of old age overwhelm us. Every gardener knows that mature fruit does not appear overnight. It takes time to grow— and so does the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. The Bible urges us to “be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4).

BRIDGING THE GAP

In practical terms how can we impact those who may be separated from us by as much as four or five decades, or thousands of miles? Over the years Ruth and I tried to follow several practices in our relationships with our grandchildren (and now great-grandchildren—forty-three in number, as I write this)—although I know we weren’t perfect. Perhaps they will be helpful to you.

Pray Consistently

Pray consistently for your family. God knows their needs far better than you do, and He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). God is able to do what we cannot do, especially within our families. We have all heard the old expression, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Don’t let that be true of your family; pray for them regularly.

Don’t pray only in general terms (the kind of prayer that vaguely asks God to bless them). Make your prayers specific, and make them daily. Pray not only that God will keep them safe but that He will guard them from the temptations and evils that assail young people today. Pray that God will give them a desire to do what is right and avoid what is wrong, and to seek His will for their lives as they grow older. Pray about any decisions you know they will be making or difficulties you know they are facing. Let them know you are praying for them, not because you are trying to intrude in their lives but because you love them and care deeply about what happens to them. Most of all, pray that they will open their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ and become His followers.

Keep in Touch

Sometimes consistent communication isn’t easy; families become scattered, and we also have to avoid giving the impression that we are trying to interfere in their private lives. But take advantage of whatever opportunities you do have. In some families this may come daily; in others, it is limited to the occasional phone call or birthday greeting. I know grandparents who have gone out of their way to learn how to e-mail or to register on one of the new social media sites because it gives them an opportunity to stay in touch with their grandchildren.

It is important as well to let them know you love them and care deeply about what happens to them. Not long ago as I was waiting for a doctor’s appointment, a woman casually asked me if I had any grandchildren. When I told her I had nineteen, she gasped in horror. “Nineteen!” she exclaimed. “How do you stand it? I only have two, and they drive me crazy. I can’t imagine having to put up with nineteen!” Her reaction amused me at first, but it also saddened me. Your grandchildren may not dress the way you wish they would or listen to your kind of music, but God gave them to you, and He loves them. They are one of God’s gifts to you, so let them know you love them, both by your words and by your actions.

Encourage Them

The Bible says, “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). After Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul) met Christ on the road to Damascus, one man befriended him and helped him, and he later became Saul’s companion on his first missionary journey. That man was Barnabas, “which means Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36).

It is tempting to lecture our grandchildren or tell them what we think they are doing wrong, and there may be a place for that occasionally. But don’t major in the negatives! They need to know we love them, and most of all that God loves them. Encourage them when they deserve it, and when they don’t, encourage them to think about taking a