How to Shape Grandchildren Who Will Remember Your Faith and Legacy

9 Nov

YouTube Video of the Church Service

Shaping Grandkids Who'll Remember You

Have you entered that phase of life where you are a grandparent? Or maybe you haven’t got there yet, but have had the privilege of knowing your grandparents and still remember them with fondness? Grandparents are unique in the bibe. They are more than just "Grandma" or "Grandad" who gave good presents, but the Bible talks about them as someone who can actually shape lives, who passes on a legacy that matters.

Dave Connolly explored this at Crowd Church, unpacking the story of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy—three generations where faith didn't just survive, it thrived. This wasn't a perfect family, with everything in order. It was messy, complex, and real. Yet somehow, a grandmother's sincere faith rippled through her daughter's life and into her grandson's future so powerfully that the Apostle Paul wrote about it. Dave's central question cuts through all the religious noise: how do grandparents actually shape grandchildren in ways that last?

The Pressure of Getting It Right

Many grandparents carry an unspoken weight. They watch their adult children make choices they wouldn't make, navigate parenting differently than they did, and sometimes step away from the faith altogether.

Dave shared the story of Lois from 2 Timothy 1:5, where Paul writes: "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." Notice that Paul doesn't mention perfect circumstances, ideal family dynamics, or everything going according to plan. What he highlights is sincere faith. Real faith. The kind that carries you through life's complexities because it's rooted in a genuine relationship with Jesus, not religious performance.

Faith That Shapes Generations

Dave unpacked what made Lois's influence so lasting. She didn't just have religion - she had a sincere, personal walk with God. That authenticity became the foundation for everything else. Paul specifically notes this faith "lived" in Lois, then in Eunice, and finally in Timothy. Not inherited like property, but caught like passion.

Here's what that looked like practically in scripture:

Personal relationship, not religious routine: Lois clearly had her own walk with God. She wasn't performing for others or going through motions. Her faith was real, tested, and proven through life's challenges.

Investment, not interference: Dave emphasised that Lois "invested and sown into those lives." She didn't control or manipulate. She influenced through her presence, modelling, and intentional connection. Timothy didn't inherit his grandmother's faith automatically - he received it through relationship and example.

Respect for choices: Even though Eunice (Timothy's mother) married a Greek man who wasn't a believer, creating a household of mixed faith, Lois's influence still mattered. She couldn't control her daughter's choices, but her sincere faith still shaped the home environment in which Timothy grew up.

Long-term vision: Lois understood something crucial - her role wasn't just about raising her own children. Her influence could extend to her grandchildren and beyond. Timothy eventually became Paul's companion in ministry, travelling the known world to share the gospel. That legacy started with a grandmother's sincere faith.

Sincere (or genuine) faith in his experience is the thing that carries you through life. Not perfect theology. Not flawless parenting. Sincere, authentic, tested faith in Jesus.

Making It Real Across Different Scenarios

When your adult children parent differently: Dave was adamant - never let grandchildren think they've taken your children's place. "I never want my kids to think that our grandkids have taken their place," he said. The relationship with adult children remains primary. Grandchildren are a blessing, but not a replacement for continuing to nurture relationships with your own kids.

When you're not the "fun" grandparent: Different grandparents bring different gifts. Dave shared about bonfire night, where he and his daughter's father-in-law work together, teaching their granddaughter responsibility with fireworks. They're not in competition. They're not trying to be the same. They're loving freely and uniquely.

When distance separates you: Physical proximity isn't the only factor. Jan spoke about how her husband's mum takes grandchildren to historical places, creating unique memories through different approaches to grandparenting. Dave's point about remembering the stories older generations tell becomes even more intentional when visits are less frequent.

When your grandchildren need consistency: Dave emphasised that children need stability, not competition. Grandparents work together (even those from different faith backgrounds) to love grandchildren well, not to win favour or prove who's better.

Conversation Street Insights

What do grandparents actually do?

Jan shared about her own children's experiences with two different grandmothers - her mum, who's more cuddly and did childcare when Jan went back to work, and Tim's mum, who does baking with the children and takes them to historical places. Both have been significant in her children's lives, creating brilliant memories through their unique approaches. "They're unique," Dave affirmed. "Those grandparents aren't in competition."

Why didn't I ask my grandparents more questions?

This became a recurring theme. Matt reflected on not asking his grandmother (Nan) about her wartime experiences and regretted not hearing those stories while he had the chance. Louise commented in the chat about wishing she'd asked more and listened to more stories from her grandparents. Dave acknowledged this as one of his deepest regrets - having grandparents who could have shared incredible stories, but never asking the questions whilst he had the chance.

How do you balance respect with reality?

Dave addressed the importance of honouring parents and grandparents whilst acknowledging that honour doesn't mean ignoring harmful behaviour. If a grandparent was abusive, honour might mean keeping boundaries whilst recognising they're made in God's image. It's about treating people with dignity without enabling harm.

What Changes When Grandparents Shape with Purpose

The impact of intentional grandparenting was a constant theme through the conversation:

Matt shared about Sharon's grandmother, who wrote a book called "Lost and Found" about her life story, including growing up during the war. That written legacy became something tangible with stories preserved, wisdom documented, and faith journeys recorded for generations to come.

Dave spoke about deliberately telling his grandchildren what they call "miracle stories" - real encounters he and his wife have had with God over the years. The grandchildren love hearing these stories, wanting to know more and more. These aren't abstract theological concepts, but real stories of how God showed up, provided, guided, and remained faithful through actual life circumstances.

Grandchildren who grow up hearing these stories develop a framework for understanding their own lives. When they face challenges, they remember how God was faithful to their grandparents. When they question, they have a history of faith to draw from. When they doubt, they recall genuine stories of God's presence in their family's journey.

Your Next Steps This Week

Here are practical ways to begin shaping generations:

Write your story - even if just for your grandchildren - and document your faith journey. Sharon's grandmother's book became a treasure. Don't let your stories die with you. Write about when you first encountered God, how your faith was tested, when God showed up unexpectedly.
Ask the questions now - If your grandparents are still alive, don't wait. Ask about their lives, their faith, their struggles, their victories. Record the conversations if possible. These stories matter more than you realise.
Tell the same stories repeatedly - Children need repetition. Share stories of God's faithfulness often. Don't assume they remember from last time. Each telling reinforces the foundation you're building.
Prioritise relationship over activity - Grandchildren don't need elaborate entertainment. They need your presence, your attention, your delight in them. Sometimes the best legacy is simply showing up consistently.
Work with other grandparents, not against them - If your grandchildren have other grandparents (from different backgrounds, different faiths, different approaches), find ways to complement rather than compete. Your unique contribution matters without diminishing the contributions of others.

The Power of Sincere Faith

Paul's description of Lois was a grandmother with sincere faith. Not perfect faith. Not impressive faith. Not complicated theological faith. Sincere faith - authentic, tested, real, personal.

That's what shaped Eunice, even when she married outside the faith. That's what influenced Timothy, even growing up in a household with divided beliefs. That's what led to Timothy becoming Paul's companion in ministry, travelling throughout the ancient world sharing the gospel.

Lois probably never imagined the ripple effects of her sincere faith. She simply walked with God authentically, invested in the lives within her influence, and trusted God with the outcomes she couldn't control.

The same opportunity sits before every grandparent today. Not to be perfect. Not to control outcomes. Not to compete with other influences. Simply to live out sincere faith that's worth catching, to invest intentionally in the lives of grandchildren, and to tell the stories of God's faithfulness repeatedly.

A Question Worth Pondering

Dave's message raises something worth considering: what would change if you saw grandparenting not as optional involvement, but as intentional legacy-building?

For those who are grandparents, what stories of God's faithfulness need to be told? What authentic faith needs modelling? What investment of time and presence matters more than you realise?

For those who aren't grandparents yet (or may never be), what about being the spiritual grandparent figure to young people in your community? Who needs to hear stories of God's faithfulness from your life? Whose faith could be shaped by your sincere walk with Jesus?

Sincere faith carries you through life. And when that faith is real enough, authentic enough, tested enough, it becomes something worth passing on. Something that shapes not just one generation, but three, four, even more generations beyond what you'll ever see.

Your grandchildren may not remember every toy you bought or every place you visited. But they'll remember if your faith was genuine. They'll remember the stories you told about God's faithfulness. They'll remember that you prayed for them, invested in them, and pointed them toward Jesus—not through religious performance, but through a sincere, authentic relationship with God that made them think, "I want what my grandparent has."

That's legacy. That's shaping generations. That's what Lois did, what Dave challenges us toward, and what God can do through any grandparent willing to live out sincere faith within their influence.

# How to Shape Grandchildren Who Will Remember Your Faith and Legacy
[00:00:00]
## IntroductionWelcome to Crowd Church
Matt Edmundson: Hello and welcome to Crowd Church coming to you live from Liverpool this Sunday night. My name is Matt Edmundson, and whether this is your first time or whether you've been part of our journey since the beginning, it's brilliant to be with you. We are a community of people figuring out what it means to follow Jesus.
In real life, not the polished, perfect version, but you know, the messy, genuine, brilliant reality of this whole thing called Christianity. So let me give you a little roadmap of what's gonna be happening over the next hour. We'll have a talk, lasts about 20 minutes looking at the topic of relationships, which is the section of our series becoming whole, that we are looking at exploring how Christ makes us whole across every domain of life.[00:01:00]
After the talk, we've got conversation streets. Oh yes. This is where we dig into what you've just heard, and you get to be part of that discussion. So if you're with us live, jump into the comments, share your questions, your thoughts, and your stories. And of course, if you are watching on Catchup or listening to the podcast, then thanks for being part of the Crowd too.
Dave Connolly: Right? Let's meet your hosts and let's get started.
## Introduction of Hosts
Dave Connolly: Two.
Matt Edmundson: Good evening. Welcome to Crowd Church. My name is Matt. Great to be with you on this fine November evening. Mm-hmm. Uh, a very warm welcome to you. If this first time with us great. That you are with us. If this is your 400th time with us mm-hmm. I'd love to know how you've done that.
'cause we've only done two 50 live streams. But what, whatever, uh, it's, it's great that you are with us. Uh, tonight. I'm joined by the beautiful Jan. Jan. Say hi.
Jan Burch: Uh, hi everyone. Thanks. Thanks for watching and listening.
Matt Edmundson: And also the beautiful Dave. Dave, [00:02:00] say hi
Dave Connolly: again. That would be handsome, I think.
Matt Edmundson: Okay.
Dave Connolly: Just to position it rightly.
Good evening everyone. Good to be here.
Matt Edmundson: Gotta get it right. Gotta get it right. So welcome to you, uh, yeah, great to be with you.
## Series Overview: Becoming Whole
Matt Edmundson: Dave's gonna be sharing the word of God with us. Uh, in just a few minutes, we're gonna get into some great stuff, no doubt. From Dave. We're gonna jump into our whole series. We've been talking about becoming whole.
We are looking specifically at relationships. We're getting into some really good stuff tonight, so make sure you grab your notebooks, grab your pens, write any comments, uh, in the comments as we go along, any questions that you have, and we'll try and answer them. Uh, after Dave's done his talk, we do something called Conversation Street, which is where we try and answer your questions if it's your first time here.
And then after that we are gonna meet up on Google. So we have a Google meets room, uh, which Zoe. We'll put in the comments at some point in the non too distant future or we put it in the comments. Awesome. Uh, so that's the link. Go Crowd Church [00:03:00] slash meet. It's in the livestream. Comments do come and join us.
Of course, if you're watching this on catch up or listening to it on the podcast, don't come join us 'cause we won't be there. Uh, but if you are, if you're with us on the livestream, it'll be great to see you in there. Come say hi, um, and come meet a few of us. And a few of the guys that watch online, uh, and join, join in.
Just, you know, it's always nice to connect with people, isn't it? And it's always good to have a bit of a chin wag. Uh, so that's what we're gonna do, uh, at the end of the service.
Jan Burch: Mm-hmm.
Matt Edmundson: So, uh, anything else? Have I missed, Jen?
Jan Burch: No, no. Just, um, yeah, just a warm welcome to everyone and, um, over to. So, Dave, do you know what Dave's talking about tonight, Matt?
Matt Edmundson: I'm not, I'm not even sure Dave knows what he's talking about tonight, so Oh, yes
Jan Burch: I do.
Matt Edmundson: Oh, do,
Jan Burch: it's about being a grandfather or grand having grandparents.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, grandparents.
Jan Burch: Yeah. It
Matt Edmundson: is the whole relationship side with grandparents. So let's just, well, you've, you've, you've spoiled it now anyway, sorry. Anyway, let's jump into it.
## Dave's Talk: The Role of Grandparents
Matt Edmundson: The amazing handsome, right, Reverend Dave Conley. [00:04:00]
## Talk with Dave Connolly
Dave Connolly: Good evening folks, or whatever time of day it is. You're watching this. You are really welcome and we all continue in this series on relationships and, um, I've been tasked, um, to talk about being a grandparent and, um, I'm sure we'll get into some of the personal stuff when we get to conversation.
Um, but we like to anchor all that we're saying in scripture. And I just wanna say that, um, you know, sometimes I was saying to the guys, um. As church ministers or people who speak in church, sometimes we paint this picture and it's always like, it appears to be like, you know, the ideal situation. Well, I wanna tell you a story, um, um, of, you may have heard of Timothy and um, he had a grandma called Louis and a mom called Eunice.
And we're just gonna look at their family uni and you will see it. Isn't this. Perfect family unit [00:05:00] and um, 'cause I think that will help us in our context of understanding, um, 'cause life is complex, isn't it?
Matt Edmundson: Mm-hmm.
Dave Connolly: If not, write a book and I'll buy you and you can help me. Okay. Here we go then. So if you've got a, a bible there with you, I love people to, um, either have a Bible or get it on your phone or whatever your device is.
And there's um, go to two Timothy chapter one, verse five. That's two Timothy chapter one, verse five. We're just gonna look up one verse at this moment, and this is Paul writing to Timothy. He says this, I am reminded of your sincere faith, which faith lived in your grandmother Lewis, and in your mother, Eunice.
And I am persuaded now lives in you. So can you see that thing of legacy, you know? And um. It, [00:06:00] it isn't like giving that as a piece of paper or, or something. It's something that you receive and you, you've learned from that person you've been influenced by and that influence now lives in you personally.
And, um, and we read, let's just talk a little bit about, um, Lois. Some people call her Lewis, some people call her Lois. And um, we read that she had a sincere faith. A sincere faith. I just wanna say, um, sincere faith in my experience has been the thing that carries you through life. A sincere faith. 'cause you're talking about a real faith, um, one that you have a personal savior, personal relationship, personal walk, and we see, oh, that's passed on to the, to her daughter and then to her grandson.
And you know, Timothy, um, he eventually becomes Paul [00:07:00] the Apostle. Uh, he writes all the books in the New Testament or mo lots of the books in the New Testament. He becomes Paul's companion and partner on the mission field. He travels with him, you know, but Lois, he was a Christ follower and she had a clear and lasting influence, as I've said on a household.
And that means a area, the people who came within a influence, within the boundaries of a, a home, a influence as a grandma, as a friend, et cetera. And the influence had real true impact. That it didn't just stop with her having a good life, a godly life, that her influence reached into eunice's life at the daughter.
An influenced there, even though Eunice has to make her own choices. And we'll talk about them shortly. And then on to Timothy. So we need to understand that Lois [00:08:00] invested, sown into those lives. I wanna say that these people were real people living in a real time with all the pressures of their day, you know?
Um, and they had a real faith, just like maybe you. They went through different seasons of life just like us, but they carried a message and that message stemmed out having a personal relationship with Jesus, you know, as a grandparent. So, uh, if you're a grandparent, um, let me just say this, um, you know, grandchildren.
I often say to people, oh, God's blessing to you for not killing your children when they were teenagers. I'm sure you've never had that moment, but if you have young children, they do grow up and bless them. Um, there are times when they're pushing the boundaries. So grandchildren are God's blessing to us.
And, um. [00:09:00] We may be, you know, pondering, how do you know, how do we impact our own children and our own grandchildren? Can I just say, you know, one thing that's really important to me, and I, and I love being a granddad, um, but it's simply this, that I never want my kids to think that, oh, our grandkids have taken their place.
Jan Burch: Mm-hmm.
Dave Connolly: They're two completely different things. Mm-hmm. You know, but it is important that your kids don't feel they're no longer required because they've given us grandchildren. You sometimes see this worked out on TV programs and it's wrong, and it's not good for your relationship with your kids. You know, we have a great opportunity as grandparents to mold shape and influence to help establish a hoping God in in our grandchildren.
Jan Burch: What's the best one?
Dave Connolly: And hopefully it's something that we've done with our children, so it's not something that we're learning from the [00:10:00] get. You know, we've all, it, it's just something that takes on a different aspect Now that we're grand and we've got grandchildren as grandmother, um, the life of Lois gives us, um, real, some real powerful lessons.
And I'll, I'll mention one or two here, or maybe three that demonstrate that, uh, there are examples to us on how to influence, you know, um, now influence doesn't mean control, by the way, and, uh, it means to help shape. Put stuff out there, help people own it, not don't operate in the area of command. I wanna say that if you don't influence your grandchildren or and your children, there's a whole stack of people here in the wings waiting to do so.
Just turn your computer on, turn your TV on, they're all there, and they won't apologize for their outrageousness. But if you don't take that moment. To share your aspect of life, your view of [00:11:00] life. There's honestly, there's a whole stack of people who will step in. So don't be shy. An example of being, um, of having a fame and lively faith, a passionate faith, you know, um, it, it isn't so to be a secret Christian.
We should be confident about our work with God. We should be thankful. We should be joyful about that. And in Deuteronomy six, um, that's in the Old Testament, verse five. It says this, love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. It doesn't mean give him the leftovers, it doesn't mean being a nominal believer.
It means being sold out. I'm in this, I'm totally invested in this. That's what we're called to be as Christians and our children need to see that in us and so do our grandchildren.
You know how Paul [00:12:00] mentions, um, Lois in two Timothy, it highlights that sincere faith. Isn't that a wonderful thing? Can you imagine our kids when they're talking to their kids saying, you know, nan or granddad or what they call you, you know, they've got a real, you know, sincere faith, they really believe, um, in, in God and what he is done.
I'll tell you a little bit more about that laser. Um. Timothy first lived with his grandma, and then, um, we read how he, he's then living with his mom. Um, as a woman born in Jewish faith, Lois would have some understanding of scripture, what it, um, what it is to have a God who created her, what it was, to have a God who was present.
She would have a sense of purpose. She would have a understanding of a commitment to that. She would've an understanding of some scripture that they had, and she was looking to [00:13:00] the promise of the Messiah,
and that's who she believed in that, that Messiah who had come. Just an interesting point here that Timothy. His father was likely to have been absent. And today, you know, um, we live in a dag where we often read of absent fathers. So for those of you think that, you know, the Bible's just full of, you know, ideal situations.
Here we have a absent father. It doesn't talk about there being a grandfather. And, um, there, you know, the parts of the Jewish faith. Um, the Timothy's mom has married a Greek nonbeliever, so that what can you, can you see the marks going up now? Oops. Oops. Can you mother imagine if that was your daughter?
You know, a husband isn't present. She married a nonbeliever. You know, that would've been a challenge. [00:14:00] But, you know, Lois didn't give up. Lois didn't cut her out. She wasn't sidelined. Like today in society if somebody wrongs you, you just cut 'em out. You close them down, you cut 'em off. It's like they didn't exist.
And I know life's tough and I don't believe for one moment, lo um, endorse, you know, that relationship. What she did, she continued to love her daughter. Can you imagine if she'd have caught her off? She would've LA lost the opportunity to love her daughter and to love her grandson. I hope that makes sense to you.
I'm just trying to show you that, you know, the Bible isn't just full of ideal situations, but it's full of an amazing God who imp inputs our life to give us grace, to be graceful and gracious to people.[00:15:00]
Don't distance yourself. Don't, don't, don't have to. You know, there's a thing in the way we, we just cut people off. They wrong us or disagree with us, and we're told Cut them out. Cut them off. You know, the Bible talks about restoration. Now listen, I know there are some horrendous things that happen to people, you know, and we do have to take people out, but in your heart, we're always looking for restoration.
And it's funny, you know that we always go to the worst possible scenario when we talk about restoration and forgiveness, when everyday life is full of situations where we need to forgive people.
Lois had encountered Jesus the love of Jesus. She was a believer, she was a follower and that is evidence. She courageously chose to stand. [00:16:00] With her daughter. Can you imagine what the neighbors would be saying, Joan, down at the shops, you know? But Lois had found something so precious in the message of the gospel.
She lived out this newfound faith that she'd found in Jesus. It was active, it was real. You could touch it. It was evident. See, when we encounter God, it becomes evident. 'cause we change our attitudes and our actions and our thinking and our words all start to change. They don't just go kaing overnight.
It's a process and people around us will see that. I mean, our daughters and our grandchildren, loving God with all that we have becomes very evident. We can, most of us can put on a front for a short time, [00:17:00] but Lois had her daughter and her grandson, Timothy, living with her. Most of us can't keep up the act too long.
We get undone at some point, but what we do see over a period of time is the generosity and the loving kindness of Lois and how she shows that. She has a true living, vibrant faith. She models all those things. All those things speak into the brokenness of the people around her. Even her daughter, who by all accounts is a single mom, Timothy as an absent dad.
Both of those situations create a gap. Quite often, bitterness can fill those gaps, but here you have a mom being a grandmom, being gracious and kind and humble, and that [00:18:00] AIDS healing. Okay. So it's all about as, as. Listen, we're just ordinary people, aren't we? Um, as grandparents, um, most of us, um, we've learned so much trying to raise our, um, our own children.
And I know we've covered this, but you know, if I, my experience has been as well, I've said to men, can you write down all the things you do really well as a dad? You could give them a large stamp and there'd still be space on it. But if I said to 'em, what you do really poorly, you could give them a roll of wallpaper.
And most of them, especially men of my age, would feel that 'cause they think of what they all did wrong. And yes, we do make mistakes, but if we apologize and address those situations, we move on. And I think, you know, being a grandparent for me, um, it's like you get a second [00:19:00] go. Mm. To address some of those things that you feel you did so poorly on?
Yeah, it, it, it's a real privilege to be a grandparent. We can always look back and think, what can we do better? And I'm sure there's always things that we can,
don't concentrate and stay on your failures. Just address them and ask God to strengthen you as you continue to love your son or your daughter and those grandchildren. We are not there to critique how our children, parents, we're there to support them and we're there to support them, even if they parent very differently from us.[00:20:00]
We want to see. We wanna see God moving in our families. We wanna believe that God is establishing something of his himself in us and Lois. Investing continually just by being with her daughter and with her son Timothy. 'cause you know, Timothy would've saw how the grandma responded to the mom. So if, um, Lois just criticized Eunice all the time, he would've heard that.
But we wouldn't be saying the things that we're saying about her, if that's what he'd heard.
There's an impact that we have. As grandparents, I really believe today we like to call it legacy and um, I believe what we sow in our grandchildren gives us all legacy. I really do. I think it's a real, a [00:21:00] real privilege and I think we shouldn't be shy. We shouldn't be slow to influence. We shouldn't be slow to speak in, in, in our family, we have a 13-year-old, two 12 year olds and two seven year olds.
And, um, we made a decision early in life, um, in, in their life, um, that their parents, it was too costly to put them into childcare. Mm. And the parents were going back to work, but it was too, it was too expensive. So Julie and I, um, made the decision that we would store childcare looking after them. I think it was three days a week, then down to two.
And we, we had the privilege of doing that and, and it was such, it was really such a privilege. Um, um, and we were so thankful. But, you know, there was a cost involved and there generally is a cost involved. For us, there was a financial cost, um, and there was a time cost and there was an energy cost, you know, 'cause we went, you [00:22:00] know, in our mid twenties or mid thirties anymore, we were older.
And um, and it was a real privilege. And now we, we still, all our kids thankfully live here within, you know, probably within five or 10 miles of where we live. And, and I dunno how grandparents. Cope when the kids live in another city, nevermind in another country. But we have this thing, um, just a story of talk about influence.
Um, with all our kids, they come and up pick 'em up on a Wednesday. We from three different schools, four different schools I should say. And, um, we come back to us and we, Ethan, we play games and Julie bakes with them. Then one of the little ones goes off home, but us, us that we go to bed. Um, ju sleeps with the other girls in the other room and um, they have this thing where they love to hear Julie tell stories, miracle stories they call them, or things that [00:23:00] God has done.
Not fairy tales or Joe blogs a story, but things that God encounters that Julie and I have had with God over the years and they are just, I, I've walked down, you can see the faces and it. It, it's just amazing. Um, and, and, and they love these stories. They wanna know more and more and more. Um, also, um, we'll have a little break from it, um, at the moment, but we frequently have, it's not got a great name, but around tea time, um, we have one good, one bad.
And you go round and you're not allowed to talk, um, until it's your go. And you say one good thing that's happening to you. Remember the age of these kids and one. One bad thing and one good thing, you know? And that gives us opportunity to hear, and we always say, you know, shall we pray about that with them?
Uh, and yeah, and it's, it's really quite intense. And then we go back to throwing food at each other. Um, well, not quite, um, not due, [00:24:00] yeah, love, cheese. But, um, you know, I'm, I'm not trying to oversize, I'm just saying, you know, the reality is that we, it's simple. It's simple. It's not childish. But it is childlike.
Yeah. And, and it's meaningful, you know, because I, I remember, um, one, one of our grandkids talking about her best friend who was poorly, and I'm like, well, what would you like us to do? And, and I remember her saying, well, let's pray. So that's what we did. We didn't have to coerce it into that. And, and, you know, the grandparent thing, it's a role of influence is what I'm saying.
Let, let me just, um, finish off with, it's about continuing. To, to walk with our kids and our grandkids. You know, we shared our lives with 'em. We don't want them to carry the burden of our life, but we wanna share it with them. Um, you know, we, we, we want, we don't wanna be hiding or putting some false front on with them.
We want them to know that we love Jesus. And, [00:25:00] um, our kids, grandkids will come to church with us and they, they see that, um, and we want them. We want them to know the reality of having a personal savior, and, and they have to come to that point themselves. You know, um, Paul says this in, in two Timothy, um, chapter three, verse 13 to 15.
It's an encouragement, but as for you continue, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of. Wasn't that great, Ike, because you know those from who you answer. You knew. You knew it was your nan, you knew it was your mum. And how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation in Jesus Christ.
And if you, you're a mom or a dad, or a grandparents, I want you [00:26:00] to know, be confident in all the seed you have sown into your kids. Regardless where your kids may be at this moment. Be confident that there'll be a, a good harvest from that seed? No, I can just, I imagine you, you know, um, Timothy loving his nan and loving, you know, um, the time that he had with her as at the time he had with his mum.
But, you know, we need to invest in those. We need to invest in those times. Uh, my buy five grandkids are all very different. Um, like yesterday, um, the, um, the eldest we went to see, um, Everton. Now you might think that is child cruelty, but um, we won so it wasn't too bad. Um, but some of the others wouldn't want that.
So don't force them to do something you want. You know, find out what it is they like. Our two younger ones love being together, you know? Um, preschool, they were together most of the week. They just love being together [00:27:00] so much. So, um, a girl and a boy, the little girl had to have the same clothes as the little boy.
I mean, coats, you know, and the same wellies and the same hats. They just love being together, you know, and, and, and we just love to celebrate that. No, you see, you can celebrate it or you can try and change everything, or you can try and, um, make every, each of these individuals conform into what you want.
Rather than just enjoying them. Yeah. And then on next two up, the two 12 year olds, we have great memories of us running across a bridge down at Albert Dock. And um, I think Julie had one of them and I had the other one and we're a little bit competitive and one of them actually shouted, he's dragging me, you know, so that became a bit of a tagline for about 10 years.
And, you know, and it's, it's not aim. It's not a mocking thing, it's a term of endearment,
Matt Edmundson: mocking.
Dave Connolly: So when [00:28:00] we talk about, we're talk about something that we enjoyed, it's a love thing. And you know, um, there's a culture that we'll try and overcome your culture that try and overcome your standards and your the things that are precious to your family.
And I wanna encourage you, moms. Dads, grandparents, tell your grandkids all the amazing things that God has done in your life. Dare to do that. So faith into them. Yeah. Talk to them. Tell them about things that you're praying for and how God has come and moved in. You know, let's have that, um, type of, um, faith that those type of actions that Eunice had, you know, where said she had a sincere faith.
I want that set of me.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: You know, when, when you know when if, if, if I'm gone or my grandkids are growing up, [00:29:00] I want them to remember me as that, that. You know, Gangan had a real sincere faith. He loved Jesus. That was the most important thing to him. Not that they aren't important, they are more important because of my sincere love of God.
So I hope there's something in that talk that you can connect with God bless.
Matt Edmundson: Wonderful. What a great talk. Uh, thanks Dave. We're gonna get into some of the things that Dave says. If you've got any questions, any thoughts, any comments, any stories, uh, put them in the comments below, especially if you've got any comments or thoughts or stories about your own grandparents.
Um, I would love that. Or if you, if you're a grandparent yourself, tell stories about your grandkids. Mm-hmm. We're gonna come onto that in just a second, but before we do, um.
## Personal Reflections and Stories
Matt Edmundson: Uh, Dave, as you were talking, I was kind of reminded my grandparents, I'm sure your grandparents as well were involved in the war.
They were right. Uh, the World War II today in the UK is [00:30:00] Remembrance Sunday if you're outside of the uk. Um, what do they call it in the States? Uh, Memorial Day, isn It Memorial Day is I think what they call it in the States. It's basically just a day to remember those that have gone into war and fought for our freedoms.
Mm-hmm. Um, it's not a. That it's not a political thing, it's just a, a time just to reflect. And my, my grandparents fought in the Great War and well in World War ii, not necessarily the Great War. Um, my grandparents fought there, Sharon, my wife, her grandparents were in that. Were your grandparents involved in the war?
Dave Connolly: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Um, and yours?
Jan Burch: Yeah. My, my grand one grandfather was, yeah, he's in the Navy. Yeah. Royal Navy.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. Really interesting. And, um. Sharon, my wife, I remember we sat down Wong and talked with him before he passed away. Sharon really wanted to understand his story more, which I want, we're gonna get into a little bit.
Um, but he was there in D-Day.
Dave Connolly: Mm-hmm.
Matt Edmundson: You know, and dunk Kirk and, um, the [00:31:00] evacuation of dunk Kirk, he was involved with that and he was one of the sailors on the beach waiting. Uh, one of the sailors, one of the army guys on the beach, he was driving a, a munitions wagon. He got the order just to leave it and just.
Get to the beach as quickly as he could. Um, and it was at this point actually Hitler, for whatever reason, did not press his advantage where he could have won the war but didn't. Uh, interestingly, there was a national day of Prayer called by the king on this day as well, which is, it's not a coincidence in my mind to be found.
You know, those two things kind of go together. Um. And we should have, the ally should have lost the war that day but didn't, and, and God was very gracious with us. Um, and so maybe you still have family members or maybe you have stories of family members that you remember fought in the war. Maybe actually you don't.
And it's like, why are we still talking about a war that happened in the 1940s? Either way. Um, I think it's just right just to take some time and just to say thank you, uh, for all these men and [00:32:00] women that fought for the freedom in which we now live.
## Remembrance Sunday Tribute
Matt Edmundson: Um, we wanted to do that as a church, right?
Dave Connolly: It's important for us to remember even today, the men and women who are serving, you know, around the world, um, and who were losing their lives for our freedom.
Mm-hmm. Which I think we take really. Lightly really. Um, and all these, you know, the conflicts, whether it was four ones, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Iran, you know, men and women's store. Yeah. You know, losing their lives for our freedom, for the freedom of other people, and yet we forget so easily. Yeah, so quickly.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, we do, we do. And of course there's a lot of wars going on at the moment. Like you say, there's the, obviously the Ukraine, Russia war course, there's Israel guys, there's, oh, there's the Christians being persecuted. I mean, there's all kinds of things going on. Um, not to pick out one over the other, but um.
War is horrific. And the men and women who lay their down life down in, in war, we should be grateful for those. Mm-hmm. Um, but there will become, there will come a day where there is no more [00:33:00] war. Um, and this is one of the things I'm looking forward to, um, in, you know, in eternity is there's no more war, there's no more bloodshed.
Um, yeah.
Jan Burch: And.
Matt Edmundson: But I'm grateful for the people that have done that. So, remembrance Sunday, uh, I think we should probably pray and then we'll crack on with Conversation Street. So, Lord, thank you for, uh, the men and women who have gone before us. Thank you for all of those that gave their lives.
Dave Connolly: Mm-hmm.
Matt Edmundson: Lord.
Dave Connolly: Yeah,
## Honoring Sacrifices and Freedoms
Matt Edmundson: we don't always get it. We don't get the conflict. We don't always understand who's right or wrong, but Lord, we know that there's. The sacrifice made by men and women to try and keep the freedoms that we have. And we remember those today, and we thank you for all of them, for all of those lives, our men.
Jan Burch: Amen.
## The Role of Grandparents
Matt Edmundson: Okay, so, um, grandparents, [00:34:00] now there's two ways to think about Dave, what you were talking about. Number one, you are a grandparent, which is why I was really keen you did the talk, which is great. It's much better you do it than me, right? Because I, I'm not a grandparent yet, yet. I just wanna point that out.
Jan Burch: Hurry. Are you? Oh, you,
Matt Edmundson: I'm in. Like, I'm really looking forward to having grand babies, but just not yet. Yeah. And
Dave Connolly: no pressure of
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, my daughter's on the, um, and uh, obviously there's also the point of view as someone who has had grandparents, right? All my grandparents have passed away. Um, and so I thought it'd be great to think about it from, from both sides.
So let's start from the, the grandparent side of things. I love what you were picking out on.
## Generational Wisdom and Cancel Culture
Matt Edmundson: One of the phrases that sort of spring to my mind as you was talking is as Christians we should think in generations and not years. Absolutely. And the Bible, there's always this thing isn't there with generations like.
God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and he referred to these sort of three generations in Proverbs, I think it is. It says A good man leaves an inheritance for [00:35:00] his children's children. Right? Um. And I think again in Deuteronomy it says, you know, fear the Lord so that your children and that your grandchildren will also fear the, there seems to be this thing about generation of three isn't there in scripture.
And, and thinking about that and actually being the defendant and the guardian, I suppose, of a family unit, both as a parent but also as a grandparent, I think is pretty significant. Yeah,
Dave Connolly: and I think, I mean, I'm just, you know, with cancel culture that threatens that. You know, because you just cut people out and, um, I think there's so much that we, that, you know, we need to understand, you know, the, the Hebrew culture, they, they talked about the family, you know, and, um, and, and they would, they.
It's just the way they communicated their history and, and, and it's fantastic, you know, and you know, I grew up, um, and we had an extended family, you know, uncle Fred, he wasn't really your Uncle Fred, he just, your dad [00:36:00] borrowed a drill from him type of thing. So both family was, seemed to be more important.
Yeah. Yeah. Where today because of can cancel culture, if mom or dad says something you don't like, you are encouraged to cut them out. Cut them off. Um, now I'm just talking about, you know, they have a different beliefs. You know, they vote differently than you, or they have a different opinion on something.
You are encouraged to cut them off. And sadly, I would've to say there's an increasing, um, I, I've experienced an increase in hearing of what I, I'll call so-called professional counselors, encouraging that. Now I'm not talking about abusive relationships. Okay. Yeah. And it isn't abuse. If I don't agree with you.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, that's very true. Yeah.
Dave Connolly: You know, we're, we're, we're being told it is, and it isn't, you know, we should be able to respect, I should be able to respect somebody else's point of view and, and be free to [00:37:00] disagree with it, you know?
## Personal Stories and Family Dynamics
Dave Connolly: So, um, I think there is a threat to the generational thing. Um, if we had council culture, we need to honor, you know, I'll show up in a minute, but you know.
I grew up with an absent mom and dad, you know? Um. I just only goki, you know, we lived in terrace streets and, um, I sold what he called sofa surf, you know, from a very, very early age into my teen. I didn't have any real, you know, family, you know, to, to talk of. But I, I, I, I, I've learned that my, I believe my mom and dad thought that they were doing the best.
Yeah. If they knew what was happening to me, I think they would've killed somebody.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: And, um. But, you know, broken people and dysfunctional people, they didn't know the Lord. You know, you can only give what you have, you know, and they, they weren't able to give it, give me anything near. But you know what, um, as I became a Christian, somehow in God, I was found.
So much more grace for them. And, and it, you know, [00:38:00] I really believe it's quite life changing for me and um, and we are privilege of leading them to the Lord. Mm-hmm. And without finding that grace, I don't believe we could have been part of that. Yeah. You know? 'cause we would, I would've still been two hairs so lovely.
You know, by.
Matt Edmundson: That's powerful, man. Yeah, that's really powerful.
Jan Burch: That, that's really special.
## The Importance of Legacy
Jan Burch: Um, I was, I was just reminded about the scripture that says God puts the, the lonely and family, families, and, um, whether that is your natural biological family or whether it's a different family, but we're not ever meant to be on our own in life.
No. Um, you know, some people are proud of the fact that they say that they don't need people, they don't need anyone or, or I, you know, I've got rid of people that cause me trouble or pain. Um, but I, I just really think it's very evident, isn't it, in the Bible that. God, God puts us in family. Yeah. [00:39:00] Um, and I think it's really precious.
I, I loved what you said Dave, about, um, almost like protecting what we've got and, you know, the world is so quick to. Get rid of or, or destroy some of those relationships. And we, we've got to be on our guard for that. And, um, and I just loved all this, what you said about what you do with your grandchildren and, you know, I just think you've probably a, a gorgeous granddad.
Dave Connolly: Mean we are not perfect, you know? No, probably.
Jan Burch: Why aren't you, Dave?
Dave Connolly: Um,
Jan Burch: you've had, you've had years of
Dave Connolly: turn me back. But, you know, it's, it's, it, it's, it's such a great opportunity, you know, I mean, one. The last two, you know, before they went to school. Um, you know, you get to, you're getting older, you know, you start off and then some mill who's 13 and the two younger [00:40:00] ones out there, seven, but you know, around just before they go, went through to school on a Friday.
It was like the four minutes late picking them up. And it wasn't 'cause we didn't love them, we were just exhausted. I mean, it had them for three days and we had to say, if we didn't get dressed immediately and go out. We were going to bed. Yeah, because you so tired. So there is a cost, you know, in it, but there should be.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah,
Jan Burch: yeah.
Matt Edmundson: And it's a cost you're willing to pay, right?
Dave Connolly: Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: In a
Dave Connolly: heartbeat. But, but, you know, it, the, the, the, the, you know, as I said, you know, for us, you know, there's a financial cost 'cause no due, couldn't work. And, um. And we were happy to do that. And, you know, you, you lose three days where you could be doing such and such and you know, you're not, you're too tired to do anything that evening.
Yeah. And, and I think you just have to be realistic and say it's for a season and we see photos come up on our time Cliff. You know, we don't, it's not that I hate Facebook or anything. Well, you know, when, when, when they, they come up, you know, and, and, and we had actually [00:41:00] moved to ca there was one the other day, one of the little ones where she bought three mm-hmm.
In Speak Hall and jump. It's great with your grandkids. They do all the things you wouldn't allow your kids to. My kids say you would've killed us all two. Picture these two little ones, they must have been three and a half or before in Speak Hall with the rain suits on with a shower proof. Go jump into this water.
Honestly, lying down in it, you know? And, and me and Julie are really proud.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: You know, watching it, you know, and our kids like. Yeah, you've killed us. I'm like, yeah, we probably, we probably wouldn't have been able to, um, afford the, um, the, the shower suit, nevermind, you know, or the wellies.
## Cherishing Grandparent Relationships
Matt Edmundson: That's an interesting point though, isn't it?
Because generations, I think there's the, when the Bible talks about obviously leaving an inheritance for your children's children, there is the spiritual inheritance, the legacy, but there's also, there's wealth. Right. And wealth changes massively, I think from generation to [00:42:00] generation. Mm-hmm. The wealth that I have grow that I grew up with is very different to what my kids have grown up with.
Yeah's True. And that's not because I've got a better job, it's just because more stuff is just readily available. Mm-hmm. Right. Um, and so it is interesting, you know, how. We didn't do that when you were growing up. 'cause that didn't exist or we didn't have the money. No. You're
Dave Connolly: too busy.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah,
Jan Burch: I think travel.
Um, I think when I look back to my childhood and my parents' childhood, we definitely travel a lot more, don't we? As a family. Yeah. Um, now, so greater opportunities for our children and their children. You know, my dad, you know, was 40 when he first went to Spain, whereas, you know, our children have been going abroad since they were Kneehigh, you know?
Yeah. Yeah. So, um, yeah, I think that's true. Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: I mean, I, I know Julie took him one of our. She's 12 now. Um, on a [00:43:00] mission trip into Holland, it was like a, it was like a, um, pastoral mission thing.
Jan Burch: Yeah. Brilliant.
Dave Connolly: And the couple, they had a young girl that age, you know, and I think, I think I can't wait to take, um, needs, gotta move on.
Um, you know, mill big girls, um, you know, on a mission trip somewhere, you know? Yeah. Fantastic. Um, because there's something special about doing together.
Matt Edmundson: Definitely. There is Absolutely. In the comments.
## Creating Lasting Memories
Matt Edmundson: Um. Louise put about her granddad, who's no longer with us, uh, was also in the war. And I think that's a common thing actually for a certain generation.
Our grandparents were still in the war. Uh, Ellis wrote, put my teeth back in. Glad to see grandparents get in the love they deserve. Uh, lived with mine since I was six. Oh, wow. And Heather wrote, um, I don't use this term lightly, but. Uh, they, her grandparents were angels in human form and got her through her younger life.
Um, I want to be every bit as good as they are when [00:44:00] any grandkids come my way.
Jan Burch: Amen. Yeah.
Dave Connolly: You know what,
Jan Burch: me too.
Dave Connolly: This is all about legacy when we talk about our grandparents, um, you know, um, and just honor them and culture today. I'm not, I'm not trying to be a grumpy old man. I just feel that it's in contention to scripture.
Scripture talks about honoring, you know, and, um, you know, some of, some of these grandparents, um, who were in the war, for instance, they saw things and, and, and people in the armed forces, like they're seeing things that. People should not see. Yeah. Experience things as young men, you know? And um, you know, so when they come home from war, of course that's gonna have an impact on the family.
Mm-hmm. Of course that's gonna have an impact on those grandchildren. Um, and, but you know, it's, it's great to hear you talk about, you know, you want to be like your grandparents, but you know. They will have learned, [00:45:00] um, whether it was your mom or your dad's grandparent, you know, um, I bet you if you spoke to them, they would say they learnt a lot by being a parent and that's why they were such good grandparents.
Yeah, yeah. You know, 'cause um, when my kids say, dad, you would've killed us. They don't say it anymore. Um, and, and, and my response is simply this. That's because, um, oh, we had three kids all very close to each other. Mm-hmm. And, um. And, and I say to them, that's because I was uptight and grumpy. And rather than just enjoy it, I was trying to learn how to be a dad.
Jan Burch: It's a different stage of your life. Yeah. Dave, so you were working
Dave Connolly: Yeah.
Jan Burch: Full time. You know, and Yeah. Yeah. That, that's the way it is, isn't it? It's, yeah. You didn't love them less?
Dave Connolly: No. But don't, you know, don't this, you know, I, I. Honor people. Mm. Honor, you know, honor them whilst you've got them. 'cause
Jan Burch: Oh yeah.
Dave Connolly: You know what the, there, there comes a time when you don't have them.
Jan Burch: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: And, [00:46:00] um, you, whether they, they were good, bad or indifferent parents, you know, I would encourage you to find something just to appreciate them on.
Jan Burch: Absolutely.
Dave Connolly: Because once that's gone, it's gone.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: And, and, you know, you will, you will.
Be sorry that you didn't Mm. You know,
## Reflections on Grandparent Influence
Matt Edmundson: I think I'd, if I, if I put my grandson hat on and think about my grandparents, um, I didn't know two of my grandparents had died before I was born. One of my, my granddads, he died when I was really young. I have like one memory of him. And then my mum's mum, she passed away, um, a few years ago before, well, quite a few years ago now.
Um, and. So I grew up really with a, just a grandmother. And one of the things that I didn't do as a teenager, which I regret doing now, not doing now, which is what Sharon did with her grandparents, was to sit 'em down and go, tell me your [00:47:00] stories.
Dave Connolly: Absolutely.
Matt Edmundson: Because when I was a teenager, I could care less.
Yeah, yeah. Right. I'm, I'm playing football or I'm watching Dallas, or whatever it is we did back then in the eighties. Do you know what I mean? Um, and I, I regret not. Not hearing their stories.
Jan Burch: Yeah, yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Um, and I, and I, I think if I could go back into, you know, if you can go back in time and do something different, what would you do?
I, I'd talk to my grandma and just get her stories from her.
Jan Burch: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: And they have got stories and they're not fictional, you know, they're real life stories, so they might be a little bit, you know, not, not very pretty, and maybe not even pc, but it's their story. And, you know, I'd encourage you to listen to that if you, you know.
If you have grandparents, I'd really encourage you to look at your diary and to say how often you're seeing them because there will come a time, you know, Nan, I'll come round and see you, granddad. I'll come and see you. And life being, life you [00:48:00] don't. Hmm. So all those planned things seldom don't wanna happen.
Matt Edmundson: Mm-hmm.
Dave Connolly: And basically what we're saying is that, you know, as importance as these other things, you're no longer required. And I, I can, that just makes me feel so sad.
Matt Edmundson: Mm-hmm.
Dave Connolly: You know that, especially where, where. Grandparents have had a, a significant impact on you. Mm. You know, maybe you've gone on summer holidays with them.
Um, I still take in my, our grandchildren as they were growing up. I'd take them out on my own, um, to North Wales on the beach, and we've got loads of pictures, just set no money, just sat on the beach throwing pebbles into water, you know, and those pebbles are free.
Jan Burch: Yeah. Yeah.
Dave Connolly: But the experience, you couldn't buy.
No. You could not buy that. No. And even now, um, we still, when we go to the beach, we, we were just, we were in Italy, just, um, in, earlier in the year, um, first thing we wanted [00:49:00] to do was go to the beach and throw stones in the water. Mm-hmm. You know, mum and dad thought we're allowed to come because there are too many questions.
Why we And what you might get wet. Yeah. Don't care.
Jan Burch: Yeah,
Dave Connolly: those clothes will dry.
Jan Burch: It's
Dave Connolly: lovely, but those memories won't fade.
Jan Burch: Yeah. My, um, my mom is, um, and Tim's mom, my husband, the, those two women are, I'm telling you, have got it to be honored. But, um, and Tim's dad, my, my dad had died before I got married. Um.
Um, but they've had, they've been significant in my children's life. Um, I mean, still to this day, my mom still, you know, would come round at the drop of her hat and she used, she did my childcare, um, when I went back to work. And my kids absolutely adore, adore her.
Dave Connolly: Yeah.
Jan Burch: Um, but yeah. [00:50:00] And, and Tim's mom's completely different.
She's much more, um Right. You know, my mom's more sort of cuddly and, um, whereas Tim's mom does baking with them and, you know, gives some tasks to do. Yeah.
## Encouragement for Future Generations
Jan Burch: Um, takes them out to historical places. And both different things they've done have been brilliant memories for them. You know,
Dave Connolly: they're unique.
Jan Burch: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: They don't have to, those grandparents aren't in competition.
Jan Burch: No, no. That's right.
Dave Connolly: You know, we had bonfire night, um, early last week in our house and um, my daughters, um, she's got two girls. Um, her husband's, um. Yeah, parents come round, you know, and for the last few years we've done it together and me and him we're like naughty boys.
And, um, but we've been teaching the eldest, uh, Miller, how to take control. And she, we, we will hand over the firework duties. So I, you [00:51:00] know, she's 13 and, um, not, not now, you know, a little bit further way.
Jan Burch: Yeah,
Dave Connolly: yeah. And we do all the right precautions, but we still notice both. Yeah. Good. But what we want us to see is that we're, now, we're very different.
He's not, he's not a Christian yet.
Jan Burch: Yeah.
Dave Connolly: But he's a lovely man, you know, and, um, I, I just, I love being with him. He's great fun.
Jan Burch: Mm-hmm.
Dave Connolly: We enjoy being together and she enjoys doing it with us. And that's what, that is the lesson.
Jan Burch: I love her
Dave Connolly: that we, we are not in competition. No,
Jan Burch: no.
Dave Connolly: We just wanna love and love freely.
Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. So good. I think we could spend the whole night talking about grandparents, couldn't we? Uh, and you know, whether it's because of stories that we've heard or stories that we regret not hearing. Um,
Jan Burch: yeah. Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: I think my takeaway for this evening, actually, I just entering that phase of life now where Josh, my Eldes is engaged.
He's getting married in April. Is that right, Zoe? Um, so he's getting married in April. It's gonna be a few years [00:52:00] before they have grandkids, I'm assuming, uh, before they have grandkids. Definitely a few years before they have grandkids. A few things have gotta happen first, um, a few years before. Um, they have kids.
Um, and if they're able, you know, and I, I, we got to sit down with Josh's fiance's parents. So Abby's parents who we're gonna go see tomorrow in the Netherlands. Um, and we got to pray over our kids, which was great. And we got to, the first time we met them, we start talking about grand babies. No pressure kids, but, you know, and, um, I think we'll just be marriage.
Yeah. Well they've gotta get married first. Yeah, yeah. Then yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a, a line, a progression. Um, so I'm in this sort of phase of life where I'm like, I'm too young to be a granddad, but actually I'm probably not. And the reality of life is it's maybe five, 10 years away and that, you know, that's gonna change.
And you know what, I'm starting to really look forward to it now. Yeah, yeah. And I love what you were saying about shaping, [00:53:00] you know, influence or shaping and not just, you know, going, oh, I've done my job with the kids, the rest is up to them. But actually still as a grandfather taking on that grandfather role, telling their stories about God's faithfulness and shaping my grandkids into, um, their journey as well.
I'd love
Jan Burch: that as well. Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
Jan Burch: Yeah, yeah. Amen.
Matt Edmundson: Good. Amen. Um, so before we close down the livestream, any further comments from you, my dear?
Jan Burch: No, just really enjoyed it. Thanks Dave. And, um, I think, I think it's really important to, you know, as, as you said, to honor our grandparents and our parents. Mm. Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. Any further comments from you, chief?
Dave Connolly: No. I'm good at study. I said way enough
Matt Edmundson: just goes to the comments. Um, Louise said here, I, she agrees actually she would've asked more and listened to more stories from her grandparents. One good thing is I have my family history written down. Wow. And there are some good, uh, about my granddad in there.
I can always look at that [00:54:00] in the photos. You know what, actually, one thing Sharon's grandmother did. She wrote a book called Lost and Found, which was her story. Um, talking about what it was like growing up in the war and all that sort of stuff. Such a good thing to do. And I'm like, actually my, I mean, for my grandkids, this, I, I appreciate technology is different.
If they really wanted to, there's hours and hours of videos they could watch of me talking. Right. Which I think is great. Yeah. But to write your story down like that, that's such a good thing to do. Yeah.
Jan Burch: Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Um, and if you are a grandparent, can I encourage you? Yeah. Go write a book about your story? Yeah.
Even if just, just your grandkids that read it, um, it'll be such a wonderful possession to give them, I think.
Dave Connolly: Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Amazing. Really amazing. Okay, well. I love this. Love the fact that at church we can talk about grandparents and do that in a godly way. So thanks Dave for sharing that with us. Love the story.
Pleasure. It was really good. Thanks John for being with us.
Jan Burch: Thank you.
## Closing Remarks and Next Week's Topic
Matt Edmundson: So what we're gonna do now is we're gonna close this particular aspect of the live [00:55:00] stream. Uh, so can you put in the comments again, the URL, um, so in the comments is a url. Go Crowd Church slash meet. Um, Dan's gonna get his laptop ready.
Q, Dan, uh, and we will see you. Um, I am in the, in the Google meet. Do come join us in there. Come and say how's it, uh, come chat with us as we'll. Carrie, come talk, share your stories about grandparents. Be good to hear them in there. Uh, so we're gonna probably take about two minutes to do that. Um, but we're gonna end the live stream now.
This next week, uh, is Mark Buchanan. Talking about discipleship, your friends. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, uh, we've got, we're gonna do talk about discipleship next week, so come join us without looking forward to that. Uh, but in the meantime, if you, if we don't see you in the Google rooms, have a phenomenal week, wherever you
Jan Burch: are.
Yeah. Have a great week, everyone.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, yeah.
Jan Burch: God bless.
Matt Edmundson: God bless you. Bye for [00:56:00] now.