Joy with Children

Finding Joy in being with our children

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

This bible verse evokes imagines of a heaven where children and angels play together in pure enjoyment, praise and adoration of God.

Many grandparent blogs describe grand parenting as being able to recapturing the joy of childhood as they experience their inner children with their grandchildren. 

The Australian Department of Health has researched how engaging in activities that we enjoy increases both our physical, emotional and mental health as we age.  What a better way to stay healthy then to enjoy our grandchildren?

There are as many ways to enjoy grandchildren, but most important is that our grandchildren also enjoy being with us.  

We need to choose activities that equally fit into the following three categories:

1. Activities that we enjoy and are appropriate for children
2. Activities that our grandchildren enjoy and we enjoy
3. Activities that your grandchildren enjoy and are appropriate for us.

We enjoy going to Church (category one), our grandchildren enjoy Sunday school (category two) and we all enjoy going out for dinner after church (category three).  We do not bring the girls to Church if Sunday school is cancelled because we want them to enjoy Church as we do.

We enjoy going to the movies and with our granddaughters we only go to those with fit into category two.  With our 18 year old grandson we attend some movies with him if they are category two movies and sometimes we go to the same theatre but attend different movies.

If you are able invite your grandchildren to spend time with you.  As we grow older it is these experiences and their lasting memories that will keep us young at heart and joyful in spirit.

Grandma Snyder

State Government of Victoria, Australia, Department of Health. (2011, May 18). Personal enjoyment: participation and engagement. Retrieved from Victoria Government Health Information : http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dementia/changes/enjoyment.htm

 

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