The first Vitamin: “I love you” :-  We often use the word love to describe how we feel about a lot of things eg.  I love chocolate or I would love to go on a holiday, but love is something we decide on, learn about and work on, a journey of self-discovery. 

When it comes to saying I love you to a member of the family or a friend or a child, love is not something we hold back until everything is in perfect order and the feeling hits us. This can be hard after many years of marriage or when a child has been misbehaving. Robert Wolgemuth writes” I love you means that regardless of the circumstances, regardless of what has happened, you can count on me.”  ‘I love you’ can also be a form of tough love.  Sometimes we have to tell our spouses the truth or we need to discipline our children because we love them.

What is the most important place on earth?

Your Home!

What will make your home and family different from any other?

Love and Grace

John 13:34-35 The Message (MSG)  “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

How does a Christian family show love and Grace to one another so others recognise something special and different about them?  There are plenty of ways, but one of them is in the Power of words!

In continuing on with our grandparent testimonies, here is one more, this time from a Grandfather. Also read more to find out about our two upcoming Faith Centred Homes events.

Another testimony but this time from a Great-Grandmother.

I think I have passed through the period of being a hands-on grandmother as most of my grandchildren have established their own homes. With the exception of  two of the grandchildren’s homes, all are firmly Christian, and I know that they have their plans in place for continued teaching and training. I have three teenage grandchildren in Australia whose father is a pastor and their mother dedicated to the Lord’s work, so my role now is encouragement when I hear from them that they have had a rededication or some experience which has blest them.

As promised, here is a testimony of one of our own Karori Baptist Church grandparents. This I have found has challenged me as a parent too.

As we discussed the approaching visit of our youngest grandchild, my Spiritual Director suggested that being a grandparent is “a ministry” and I think this is an excellent attitude for us grandparents to have.  We have a unique opportunity to speak positively and thoughtfully into our grandchildren’s lives.

Psalm 78

4We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.

6 so the next generation might know them - even the children not yet born - and they in turn will teach their own children.

7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God

God is looking for grandparents who will authentically and compassionately represent Christ to the next generations. Will you be one of them?