With Tim and Darcy Kimmel
The last general session on the last day of the first-ever Legacy Grandparenting Summit was leg by Tim and Darcy Kimmel . . . yes, the Kimmels. As I have said, the Legacy Coalition did not “skimp” when it came to lining up top quality speakers who had much to share with grandparents about being intentional Christian grandparents! From the start with Larry Fowler, Josh Mulvihill, Valerie Bell and Chuck Swindoll and family, all the way through to the Kimmels, the general session speakers challenged and encouraged the grandparents to make a difference in the lives of their grandchildren, because grandparenting matters!
What is grandparenting? Tim and Darcy Kimmel shared a few answers to this question . . .
- Darcy shared how grandchildren are rewards and God gives us the opportunity to come alongside our children and help as they raise them to know, love and walk with God.
- Grandparenting is a second chance.
- Grandparenting is a sacred trust to make a real difference.
- Give a chance to show grand love between the generations.
Then Tim shared how we live our lives and the commitments we make determine if we make a difference in our children’s lives. Grandparenting is more than spending our time in rocking chairs. The average age of a first time grandparent is 47 – average person lives to be 78 which gives us 30 years to make a difference.
Our generation is more active, more educated, more traveled than before. We have a lot going for us as this generation of grandparents – we can make a difference in our grandchildren’s lives!
Tim also shared the following thoughts from Psalm 71 about how to be gracious grandparents:
- We need to be wisdom hunters – take knowledge and add God’s grace to it to make a difference for future generations.
- We have more to offer and the biggest thing is to offer grace to our grandchildren – treat our grandchildren as God treats us.
- We have had a front row seat to God’s majesty and love than others in our family so we can show –
- Maturity – we learn from life.
- Experience – we’ve seen and done it all – we’ve been there!
- Perspective – we know things which really matter in life and help our children not sweat the little things.
- Assistance – help with our time – to give them a break and be a sounding board for them.
- Pray like mad for them and do not give unsolicited advice.
- Love with fewer strings attached – more patient and love instantly and fully.
- How to “tip the sacred cows” – don’t buy into the idea we need to retire and only care about ourselves. We need to roll up our sleeves and use the rest of our lives to really make a difference!
If this was where the Kimmels ended, we would have been challenged and encouraged for sure; but it was not. He shared four wonderful roles outlined in the Bible about how to be grandparents . . . which I will share in another post! Watch for it soon!
