Now that I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me,
till I make known your strength to this generation and
your power to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18
Reflection: With the shifts in our culture, there are fewer parents who bring their children to worship on Sunday mornings. I have noticed, however, a trend of grandparents, great-uncles and great-aunts bringing the children in their families to worship, especially after nights of sleepovers or on days when childcare occurs. It has been known for a grandchild to run up so eagerly for communion that our watching eyes fill with tears at the grace we see lived out before us. In the contemplative healing service, “Prayer around the Cross,” a grandmother and granddaughter come up together, kneel and pray for each other and anoint one another with the sign of the cross on their foreheads. A grandchild arrives for Lenten evening pray at the last minute with her grandmother so she can carry the candle forward as we sing, “Jesus is the light of the world.” I have sat through many funerals and heard grandchildren talk about the profound influence their grandparents have had on their lives. So as I am writing this, I am thinking about the powerful ministry our older generation has and wondering how we can encourage and lift up their role as witnesses of Christ’s love to their youngest ones.
Suggestions:
1. Take this verse with you and ponder its meaning for you throughout the day. What do you notice? What do you wonder? What little ones are in your life and how can you share your faith?
2. Or read all of Psalm 71 to discover how this verse fits into the psalm or to discover a different verse.
3. Or comment with a photo of your own that illustrates this verse’s meaning for you.
Tomorrow’s verse is from Psalm 72:7.
Starting January 1, 2016, for 150 days I am posting a daily psalm verse with a photo that is a visual meditation on the text for me. Each day a verse from the next psalm is chosen until all 150 psalms have been featured. To participate you may subscribe to my blog at https://elainedent.net or “friend” me on Facebook and watch for the daily links to blog posts. Disclaimer: I am not a photographer and most of the photos are from a cell phone or small camera while hiking the Appalachian Trail or the C&O Canal/Great Allegheny Passage Trail.
Cheryl Melnichak says
It’s hard for me to understand that church is not a priotity for our young parents to share with their little ones. So the best we grandparents can do is to take them with us when we get the chance.
Elaine Dent says
And you are doing a great job!
Judith Plotner says
🙂
Kelvin Wright says
Baptising my grandson, Noah
Elaine Dent says
What a gift—in so many ways.
Kelvin Wright says
.