Once again, my heart is heavy on this Saturday morning. I have been reading about the tragic death of a sixteen-year-old girl in Columbus, Ohio this week. At sixteen, she was lunging at another sixteen-year-old with a knife. A police officer shot and killed her while responding to an emergency call over an attempted stabbing.
Last week, a nineteen-year-old killed eight people in my city. Once again, he was so young. What caused him to be filled with so much rage that he opened fire and killed others before killing himself?
We are talking about kids, sixteen- and nineteen-year-olds. Sadly, these are not isolated cases in our world today. Our kids are screaming for help. What can I do, as a 63-year-old grandmother, to make a difference? Is that even possible?
As I am contemplating these horrible situations and praying for my own grandchildren who are growing up in this world, my thoughts turned to my responsibility as a Nana from another generation. What responsibilities do I have to those who are younger and are trying to figure out this world?
The generations need each other! I need the joy, laughter and energy that comes from spending time with my grandchildren. They need the unconditional love, acceptance and wisdom that comes from spending time with someone who has lived a good many years on the earth.
The Bible tells us that after Moses shared the Ten Commandments with the children of Israel, he told them to make sure to keep sharing this with the generations to come. Deuteronomy 6:1-2 states:
“These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.”
And in Deuteronomy 6:6-9:
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Mercy Me released a song, a few years ago, titled ‘Dear Younger Me”.
Bart Millard had a difficult childhood and wondered how life would have been different if he knew back them what he knows now. He wrote this song to his eight-year-old self. (By the way, Bart also wrote “I Can Only Imagine.”)
I do not know the situations that the sixteen-year-old in Columbus and the nineteen-year-old at Indy’s FedEx last week lived in, but just maybe, if they had someone share life lessons with them their life would have been different.
Our kids need to know Jesus. That is the most important thing. I believe they also need to hear practical and relevant truths and wisdom to help them navigate this crazy world.
If you could, what truth, Bible verse, or piece of wisdom would you share with the children of our world today to help them? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. If you would prefer, you can send your thoughts to me on Messenger or at my email cindyholtmiller@gmail.com
Perhaps we can figure out a way to get this advice out there to the younger generation and truly make a difference. I look forward to hearing your advice.
Have a great weekend!
