A Grandparents Impact
For several years, Grandparents Day has been one of our favorite days on the LCS campus. After missing last year’s event due to COVID-19, we committed to welcoming these special guests to campus again. This week, our elementary students have been honoring our grandparents and grand-friends with a time of Praise and Worship. Each grade level hosted its own performance, which included several worship songs and recited verses.
Although many are local, we had grandparents who flew into Lakeland from multiple states to attend this special event. Some grandparents faithfully participated in the event day-after-day if they had grandchildren in different grades. And hundreds of grandparents joined us online via livestream.
Dr. Sligh welcomed our special guests with an encouraging message from Psalm 78:3
3 things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God
Grandparents have a great responsibility to their grandchildren and the next generation to not only teach the gospel’s good news but to live it out in their life. A grandparent’s impact is considerable as they demonstrate kindness, love, respect, courage and forgiveness for their grandchildren. The simple act of reading Bible stories, praying, listening and loving will forever impact our children’s faith journey.
Our grandparents and grandchildren alike proudly raised their hands in worship, singing out loud words of thanksgiving and praise. It was beautiful to see cross-generational worship happen within our school’s walls. As our children connected with their grandparents, kisses and hugs immediately filled the room.
As a photographer, there is nothing more extraordinary than capturing genuine moments. The faces of these proud grandparents and their adoring grandchildren are priceless. I witnessed the most loving acts: Sweet kisses on the forehead. Grandchildren with beaming smiles as they delivered homemade gifts. Tight squeezes, holding hands, and whispers of “I love you.”
