Grandmothers – Resist the Temptation!

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

I tell you grandmothers – resist the temptation!  The temptation to be like everyone else and follow the crowd.  After all the years we have lived, it’s time for us to get off the bandwagon and walk down our own road.  Make our own way and stop falling prey to the mob.

What I’m speaking about is getting caught up in this holiday hype.  Does it make sense for us to show our grandkids that the way to celebrate Christmas is by being indulgent and expecting everything for ourselves?  I know, I know, it was sooo much fun when we were young – to have all the gifts under the tree (if you were blessed enough to have that experience), lots of toys, candy, excitement and food.  It was wonderful.

So, I’m not saying don’t allow your grandkids to have this expericence.  What I am saying is to take it to a higher level.  Rather than you,Grandma, Granny, Nana, Giggy, Gama, buying more stuff for your grandkids, let the parents do that and you give them more.  Teach them how to give back, share with them how important it is to give than to receive (see how well that goes over) .  Talk to them about the homeless, the broken, the forgotten and ask them how they think they can help them during this holiday time.  Come up with some ways to bless others.  Our family used to make sandwiches and put them and bottled water in brown bags to give away to the homeless in downtown DC.  We took our girls with us so they could experience at a young age how special it is to give to those less fortunate, to smile at someone who is ignored all day, and to provide a meal (however small) to the hungry.

The Lord said if we did this to the least of these, we were doing this to him.  What a warming thought!  Teach these values to your grandkids, rather than teaching them to grab at the next video game, the next phone or other gadget.

We should also resist the temptation to isolate ourselves.  Our grandchildren need to know the value of family. Not just their brothers and sisters, mom and dad and grandma, but cousins, aunties, uncles, distant relatives everywhere.  This is what I love about social media.  I get to stay in contact with family from around the country in ways that are so personal.  Even though I’m not there, it’s easy to shoot them a quick ‘hello’ or respond to their post with a smiley face or tell them how proud you are of them.  Our grandkids should be a part of this experience.  Let them know when you have connected with distant family members, show them their post and pics and engage them in keeping the extended family small.  In addition, show them the old pictures from the photo albums (those old antiques) and laugh with them as you share memories.

Just as these grandparents made memories for their family, you can too.  Watch this and enjoy!  Be inspired to have this much fun no matter what your age.

All this helps us resist the temptation to follow the crowd and get caught up in things that don’t matter.  Dare to be different, experience life for yourself, make unforgettable memories for your family.

For Christmas this year our family is traveling to a resort for the weekend to share this time together.  We have games to play, movies to watch and are even going swimming in the indoor pool at the lodge.  We are also going to sit down to dinner together and make memories, real memories about our family.  I hope we get to tell stories from the past and speak of dreams for our futures.  We will resist the temptation to be in front of the TV, the xBox and the Wii, and just learn ‘to be’.  To be with each other.

May you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!