The Christian Grandparenting Podcast
Hi, I’m Gayle Veitenheimer. Every week, I offer practical hands-on activities to help grandparents enthusiastically share their faith with their grandkids. Seminary-trained, so you don’t have to be, I bring fresh ideas for teaching Scripture and principles from God’s Word. I’ll share prayers for intercession and ways to build character and connection with your grandchildren.
I hope to give you a voice because staying silent places future generations at risk.
As an author, I weave my passion for Scripture with my calling to write by crafting adventurous tales and creative non-fiction that encourage kids to walk out their faith. The Kingswell Kid Detective series, co-authored with my writer friend Jen Weaver, debuts this May. Mother of four and GG to six, I love Jesus, CrossFit, running, hiking, national parks, my Belgian Malinois Blaze, and a great story. Thankfully, my husband is a good sport about it.
Find me at gayleveitenheimer.com.
The Christian Grandparenting Podcast
Build a Better Easter Basket for Your Grandchild
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Easter is almost here. Are you ready? While I’ll never turn down chocolate, there’s so much more to Easter than candy and stuffed rabbits. Here are some suggestions for a better Easter basket for your grandchild.
Show Notes for Build a Better Easter Basket for Your Grandchild
Scripture to Help Grandparents:
Next episode on The Christian Grandparenting Podcast: How to Share the Mystery of Life from Death with Your Grandchildren
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Build a Better Easter Basket for Your Grandchild
Easter is almost here. Are you ready? This week on The Christian Grandparenting Podcast, we’re building a better Easter basket. Glad you’re here.
Hi, I'm Gayle Veitenheimer, your host for The Christian Grandparenting Podcast. Each week, I bring practical hands-on activities that teach Scripture and principles from God’s Word. I offer prayers for intercession, as well as ways to build character and to connect with your grandkids.
Finally, I bring encouragement.
Because to stay silent . . .places future generations at risk.
I'm so glad you're listening. Let's walk this grandparenting journey together.
While I’ll never turn down chocolate, there’s so much more to Easter than candy and stuffed rabbits. Here are some suggestions for a better Easter basket for your grandchild:
1. Resurrection eggs: Direct focus away from the bunny and toward Jesus. There are multiple versions of resurrection eggs, but all tell the story of Easter. Plus, kids have the fun of digging into their basket early. Most kits start twelve days out.
2. A blessing or a letter.
And he [Jesus] took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16 NIV
Check podcast episode #9 for how to write a biblical blessing. Personalize these blessings or correspondence for each grandchild. I’ve put templates in the Show Notes.
2. Christian jewelry or t-shirts.
Between Etsy and Amazon, you’re covered.
3. Christian stickers for their notebooks and folders, or art for their homework space to keep God front and center.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your forehead. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:8-9
Ancient Israelites kept visual reminders of God and His word. It still works.
3. An age-appropriate devotional or Bible study.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
I’ve listed a few options in the Easter bundle, but there are a lot to choose from. If you have a favorite, please share in the comments.
4. Memory verse cards that you can learn together.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
Learn verses with them. Reward their effort with something special: gift cards, their favorite snack, movie night—whatever speaks to them.
5. A prayer journal, coloring book, or prayer chart.
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
Journaling is a great discipline to begin whether they are recording their prayers or keeping a track record of how God works in their lives. Amazon stocks them for every age.
6. Colorful pens, pencils, and highlighters. Add sticky notes, index cards, and maybe a planner for teens.
Then the LORD replied, “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.” Habakkuk 2:2
We retain more when we write things down. Art allows some kids the option to draw and doodle while they pray or think about a Scripture passage.
7. Stories that point your grandchildren to God. Fiction is a powerful tool, one that Jesus used often. Check the list below.
Then he told them many things in parables, . . . Matthew 13:3
If your grandchild isn’t a big reader, try reading together or simultaneously, if you don’t live nearby. Don’t rule out magazines if a whole book is overwhelming. Consider Christian magazines like Focus on the Family's Clubhouse, Jr., Clubhouse, and Brio. Cadet Quest focuses on boys. Sports Spectrum is for your sports lovers. I’ll include a list of books in the handout.
Bonus: My first book, The Mystery of the Missing Falls, launches in May. In preparation for its debut, my co-author and I regularly send out Detective Dispatches each month. Look for the link on the handout.
Let’s pray:
Prayer: Father God, capture the hearts of our grandchildren with Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. Holy Spirit, brood over each child and birth new life. Bring them into the Kingdom and help them grow in relationship with you. Impress on them the significance of Easter. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Don’t settle for candy and bunnies. Include them, but don’t stop there. Choose your favorite recommendations and hop to it. If you have suggestions we need to hear about, put them in the comments below.
Go. Build your best Easter Basket ever.
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Thanks for joining me. Now, let's hit the trail. See you out there.
Show Notes for Build a Better Easter Basket for Your Grandchild
Scripture to Help Grandparents:
Next episode on The Christian Grandparenting Podcast: How to Share the Mystery of Life from Death with Your Grandchildren
Rate/Follow/Review