What fun yesterday to sit with a group of seniors (OK, they are of the group of older seniors – meaning mostly over 80). I asked them a simple question.
How do you continue to disciple your adult children in the faith of Jesus Christ? The underlying assumption is that we are never meant to abandon our children – regardless of age, but to always seek to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (a statement that is often used in dedicating children to God).
Now, for some that means that their children are over 60 – and in the senior range themselves. Others have great grandchildren that are young adults!
Example was the first thing that arose. Some talked of how their parents had chosen certain actions that expressed their faith in God. Sabbath keeping, honest practices, family solidarity. They had themselves maintained active contact with their children (our day and age means often our children do not live in the same place as we do). For those who spoke, the choice was to make sure their own lives were lived according to their Christian principles.
Other thoughts included prayer, never giving up, service to the children.
What other ways can parents of adult children continue to disciple their children?
Great subject , Ron , and so important ! Being 85 yrs old now, I think and pray and yearn over my children and grand and great grand children more than ever before. So many reasons to do so in such a conflicting, and fast changing world. We pray that they will remember how God was the centre of our lives, and though we made mistakes and were not perfect, that He is alive today and His word is our guidebook. I talk to them through email, facebook, telephone whichever way I can without being a nuisance ! Also the way to a man’s heart baking or cooking something just to let them know they are loved ! Listening to them is so important too.