“Children’s kids are a grandparents’ pride and joy." ~ Proverbs 17:6
Kelly was an optimist. Life rarely disappoints her because
the sun always comes up… eventually. When God decides you need a lesson, all
you can do is hang on and hope you can smile or laugh about it later.
Three months ago, she
and her husband Michael exchanged their NYC brownstone for a dream home on a
wooded lot near Schenectady. With their daughter’s blessing, it happened to be
adjacent to her family’s lot. They’d always been close; now they were
neighbors.
They built a Craftsman-style
house sporting natural materials, an open floor plan, and a charming front
porch. Their two children surprised them by hosting an open house and inviting several
old friends from the city. Their dream of living near five grandkids became real.
A few months later,
their son and his family packed up and left for his new job in Texas, 1,600 miles
away. He’d been jobless for nearly a year. While they were excited for them, the
feelings of grief and sadness were overwhelming. Kelly deeply missed them all.
At least their
daughter’s crew still lived next door. When they took their two youngsters to
Florida on a Disney adventure, the neighborhood felt empty and so lonely.
When they returned, her daughter couldn’t wait to share her good news. She’d landed a marketing promotion – one offering an attractive raise and terrific perks… in Cleveland, about 400 miles west.
As parents, Kelly and
Michael had fulfilled their child-rearing responsibilities. Now it was their
children’s turn to step into life’s challenges with maturity, courage, and
purpose. The relationship wasn’t what they’d envisioned. But being a
long-distance grandparent didn’t mean they couldn’t still be intentional, spiritual
mentors.
Since their ultimate
goal was to make certain the kids were loved, encouraged, and felt a sense of belonging,
all that could be done from a distance. Technology provided ample creative ways
to connect via email, video chats, and photo sharing. Cards and gifts (even for
no specific reason), were always an option.
And when the
opportunities arose, they’d make their visits memorable, so the grandkids would
always look forward to them. With a little extra effort, sharing God’s love
with grandchildren was always possible no matter how far away they were.
