The Spirituality of Grandparenting.

Book Review

Milton, Ralph. Milton, Beverly. The Spirituality of Grandparenting. Northstone- an imprint of Wood Lake Publishing, Kelowna, B.C. 2007.

Comment. Henry
This is a delightful little book about a topic that is very close to my wife and me. We have a dozen grandchildren ranging in age from two to twenty five. In fact we have one great-grandchild. We can relate so well with much of what is being presented.

By way of explaining his ‘biases’ Ralph confesses, “I am incurably religious. I’m deeply involved in the Christian church because I can’t hang on to my spirituality without it. Bev (his wife) is an ordained minister.” (10) He declares that when grandparents delight in their grandchildren that is their “spiritual vocation”. (13)

The learning and teaching of trust is a ‘two-way’ street in grandparenting. There is a wisdom of age, a senior, but there is also a wisdom of a child. Becoming a grandparent is not a choice, it happens. It is impacted by every manner of life-style.

There are many benefits and challenges that are a part of relationships that span two (or more) generations. Being ‘childlike’ (a biblical exhortation) seems to happen naturally between grandparents and grandchildren. Infants are on their journey away from their Eden of innocence. Grandparents are approaching a return to an Eden restored.

Grandparenting happens in every conceivable environment from live-in to long-distance relationships. Surrogate grandparenting is valid. Grandchildren are the major recipients and beneficiaries of legacies. The greatest gift we, grandparents can give our grandchildren is ourselves. The author defends the grandfather image of God as a valid analogy of a loving, providing divinity.

“Give selflessly to your grandchildren from the bountiful harvest of your ripened soul. In doing so, you will touch the future. That is the way to be ready to leave this life when your time comes.” Arthur Kornhaber.