Over the years I have become aware of several priceless gifts that Granna shared with us-gifts that perhaps only grandparents, or those acting as grandparents, can give. We knew they would be excited, but we were not prepared for the exhilaration that they were just as thrilled about this precious baby as we were. As our family attended the funeral of our great-grandfather, I noticed a very interesting phenomenon. Those who were weeping and struggling the most were not his brothers, sisters, or children. Because he had seen beyond their rough exterior, loved them unconditionally, and accepted them as they were.
Grandparents have a unique vantage point.
While parents love their children deeply, they must also discipline them and follow through on their behavior. If grandparents try to assume that disciplinary role, it backfires on them and prevents them from ministering to some of their grandchildren's greatest needs. One grandmother told me of a time that she tended three of her grandchildren while their parents were away on a trip. She did so very effectively, but when the week was over, her grandchildren no longer wanted to come to her house or even talk to her. She realized that she had made a mistake.