In an effort to emphasize the season of Thanksgiving, I’m celebrating it all through the month of November. Earlier I explained my 21 Days of Giving Thanks challenge (which you can read about here). This post marks two weeks straight of giving thanks. If you have stuck with me this far, I’m thankful for you! Today let’s give thanks for the people God sovereignly appointed to bring us into this world.

Day 14 – Give Thanks for Parents and Grandparents

Just this past week my parents flew in from Colorado to visit my family. It had been over a year since we were all together, and it was so precious to see the excited, happy look on my little girls’ faces when grandma and grandpa sat down in the back seat of our van. We had a great time.

I understand, though, that not everyone has had the same experience. Family relationships may be tense, even destructive, or you may not have ever known your parents. We all have a different story. And the Bible has a reminder for all of us when it comes to parenting this Thanksgiving. David said,

One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
Psalm 145:4

Regardless of our past, leaving a legacy to for those who come behind us is something we all can strive to do. Why? Because, while people come and go, God never changes from generation to generation. The only hope for our children and grandchildren (or nieces, or nephews, or students, or whatever your relationship to a child may be) is the life-changing power of the gospel. They will never have the perfect parents, and we should never give that impression. Instead we should point them to the one who will never fail them. When we tell the next generation how God has worked specific wonders in our own lives, and how God has worked wonders in the story of the gospel, we will give those who come after us a real reason to give thanks. 

Challenge: Thank God for your parents and grandparents. Pray that God would help you to leave a legacy in your own home of a gospel-saturated, Christ-exalting life.

CP