People like you and me make mistakes, wrong decisions and poor choices.

I’m not encouraging you to blab all your mistakes to the world. Use discretion. You have to.

Some of you grandfathers had alcohol, drugs, divorce, and other bad behaviors in your background. These are not things you want to talk about with your younger grandkids. They can’t handle these issues themselves. Spiritual warfare is strong, and it can take people down.

When your grandchildren hit their youth, and they’re battling these kinds of choices, it’s a good thing for you to share some of the choices you made, and their results.

What if you told them about some of your weaknesses and how you overcame them through Christ?

It’s very important to show our grandchildren that we are authentic and vulnerable. It’s important for them to know we have weaknesses. It’s not good to be preachy toward our grandchildren, or anyone fro that matter. Being preachy turns off people.

Galatians 6: 1, adapted from the KJV: “If an man is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.”

Fault: Trespass, wrongdoing, sin

A spirit of meekness: with gentleness (Greek)

Being preachy, like saying, “Don’t do this or that,”, or, being authority and lording it over your grandchildren drives them away.

Moreover, we have to consider ourselves and our own behavior, lest we also be tempted.

I ministered to a woman last Fall. Her husband wasn’t cooperating with her. He wouldn’t listen. I asked her what she was telling him. She said with some guilt, “I tend to push him.” I told her the best way to help him is not to shame him, but to show support and gentle guidance.

How did we face some of our struggles and overcome them? Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12, “If I must glory, I will glory in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ mat overcome me. When I am weak, then am I strong.”

Face it- We’re all fallen creatures. We are saved by God’s grace and only by His grace. It’s important to know that, and it’s important to share the consequences we faced by our actions in order to steer our grandchildren away from those kinds of things and encourage them to go in the right direction.

A Certified Life Coach and Certified Biblical Counselor, Richard Szalecki’s (pronounced, “Sah-LEH-key”) greatest strength is his compassion. His heart is filled with a deep, deep caring and love for others. He loves to share his inspiring stories of healing, hope and recovery around the world. Richard is a published Christian author, a writer, speaker, and church leader. He and his wife live in Florida and are excited to have welcomed their first grandchild  in February 2025.

Photo by Andy Oldham using FlatAi