Be Selfish

Let’s get selfish for a moment. Yes, your grandkids benefit from your love, wisdom, encouragement, and all the other amazing stuff you do for them and with them. Yes, moms and dads appreciate when you take the little rug rats, snarky grade schoolers, and eye-rolling teens off their hands for a while. But—if you give it a chance—you can come out way ahead in this relationship, getting more personal bene­fit out of time spent with your grandchildren than you ever imagined.

Consider your health and wellness. Young people can be exhaust­ing. That’s good news! Keeping up with their active lifestyle gets your blood flowing, muscles moving, and brain working overtime. Play hide-and-seek, toss a Frisbee, or catch some lightning bugs, and your immune system, muscle tone, and heart health all get a boost.

Your emotional and psychological well-being also gets a kick start with every engagement. As they learn, play, pretend, imagine, and try new things, you will find yourself learning, playing, pretend­ing, imagining, and trying new things. Initiate activities that gener­ate laughter, and your cognitive function increases while your risk of depression and stress levels decreases.

Finally, you begin to see the world through a new lens. You’re not dwelling on past mistakes or thinking that the best of life is behind you. Instead, you’re seeing how your grandchildren’s curiosity and daily discoveries are drawing them (and you) toward the future.

Of course, goofing with your grandchildren is not really being selfish. It’s about living in the light of God’s love. Sharing joy. Finding rewards in relationships. When you allow yourself to bask in God’s faithfulness, your entire family benefits.

With that concept fresh in your mind and heart, go ahead and memorize Psalm 100:5: “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations” (ESV).

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What are you doing for your physical and mental health? How many diets have you begun unsuccessfully? Do you own any gym equipment gathering dust? Are you popping pills or listening to self-help gurus to reduce anxiety? What if you simply spent more time engaging with your grandkids instead?