Essay: An Open Letter to My Grandkids

An Open Letter to My Grandchildren

By

Lynn S. Nored

Oct. 15, 2023

Recently Martha and I listened to part of a sermon series entitle “Pass It Own.”  This brought to mind just what I would wish you know about life that is important.  This essay is an attempt to put in words some things that I believe are most important in your life.

What are the important questions you should ask and answer?  Here are some of them.  I will expand on each.

• Do you believe God exists and is active? And that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God?
• What does belief in God mean for you?
• What kind of person am I going to be?
• What are the virtues I should peruse and vices I must avoid?
• What are the important things to seek in life?
• Who are you going to marry?
• What are you going to do with your life?

Do you believe God exists?  The answer to this question is the most important one.  You may say, “Certainly, I believe God exists.”  Though you many think the answer is essay, in reality it is not.  AS the scripture says “ The Devils Believe and Tremble.”  It is whether that belief has an implication and meaning for your life that is important. 

What does belief in God mean for you? Does it mean rather superficial belief that translates into just “going to church”—which is a misnomer within itself?  Or does it really translated into really loving God?  Christ says if you love me you will keep my commandments. What is the essence of his commandments?

 ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”

These two must provide the real focus of your life if you are going to be the kind of person you should be.  They are both easy and hard to follow.  For example, what is “love”anyway? It is not the passionate love of man and woman.  It is neither the love of Mother nor Father for their children.  It is not the love one has for one’s best friend.  It is love that denotes right action towards God and Man.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

That is hard to do.  This particular virtue is so important that even Benjamin Franklin tried hard to acquire it.   He worked on each one of the traits one at a time each month.  Probably a very good thing to do.

Another very important question you should ask yourself is “What kind of person are you going to be?  Decide what your character will be. What will be the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and individualizing  you?  Will you be a person of moral excellence and firmness in all situations—including when you are tested or alone?   The kind of character you will have is a decision only you can make.  Be assured, it will be tested.

To develop moral excellence and high ethical standards one must acquire virtues and avoid  vices.  We find the following:

For this very reason make every effort, by your faith to produce virtue, by virtue knowledge, by knowledge self-control, by self-control steadfastness, by steadfastness godliness, by godliness brotherly affection, and by brotherly affection love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Chris. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying one another.” And remember the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

This is not a comprehensive list. Others to acquire include forgiveness, wisdom, humility, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, bearing good fruit, impartiality, sincerity, purity, righteous,  and producing good deeds.  More on a couple of these In a moment.  

 Something similar to virtues is what you think about.   It goes with another admonition.  That admonition is to “Guard your heart.”  For as a person thinks in his heart, so is he.  It defines a person to God.  What should you think about? “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

What are the vices you should be aware of and avoid.  They are:

Sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, gossip, God-haters, insolence, boastfulness, dissension, jealousy, swindlers, drunkards, cheaters, fits of rage, selfish ambition, disorder, bitterness, anger, obscenity, coarse joking, impurity, lust, evil desires, lying, unholy, irreligious, homosexuality, lovers of money, abusive, disobedient to parents, unforgiving, brutality, treachery, rashness, foolishness, hatred, covetous, and idolatry.

Make no mistake you are living in an age where the culture tells you many of these vices are in reality virtues and many of true virtues are vices.  You will be challenged.

What are the import things to seek in life?  Of course, seek God.  Seek knowledge.  But more important than even knowledge is something else that Qohelet tells to seek.  Seek wisdom.  Throughout my years, I acquired knowledge of many things—even bible things.  I also sought understanding. Greater than knowledge and greater than understanding is “wisdom.” How is one to acquire wisdom? What are its rewards?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:

 “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech.

Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.

By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;

by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,before his deeds of old.

I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,

               before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.

I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

 “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD.

But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.

So, if you think you have wisdom, God has a test for this. It is as follows:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

There is even instruction on how you are to accomplish these good works or deeds.  First, do not be concerned with the things you think you cannot do well. Don’t be concerned that you may be an introvert or extrovert.  We all uniquely made by God.  What should you seek?  Seek to know your Spiritual Gifts.  Everyone Christian has been endowed with Spiritual Gifts and they are not the same for everyone.  Some spiritual gifts given in scripture  are:  Administration, Discernment, Encouragement, Evangelism, Giving, Hospitality, Intercessory prayer knowledge, Leadership, Mercy, Prophecy, Service, Shepherding, Teaching, Speaking, Visionary, Wisdom.   Seek out and find your particular spiritual gifts and your strengths.   How are your gifts to be used?  You are to be equipped to use your gift for works of service that you may become a mature Christian to the glory of God.

The next decision that will determine to a large extent the direction of your life is “Who are you going to marry?  Unless you wish a life of heartaches marry a Christian who has the same beliefs as yourself.  Your grandmother and I have witnessed the shipwreck that occurs who this advice  is not followed.  You might think that if you are a member of a particular Christian faith group that anyone who proclaims they are a Christian and is the member of a different Christian faith group, that things will turn out ok. Believe us. They will not—not in the vast majority of cases.  It is easy to let eros take over your judgment. But that is where wisdom’s voice speaks and you should heed that voice.

Another important question is “What are you going to do with your life?” One aspect of this question is what work or professional area are you going to pursue? That is important, but not the most important aspect.  Certainly, you should seek to do something that needs your strengths.  If possible seek something you are passionate about—though that is not always possible.  Remember what Christ said about losing you life if you focus on the wrong things in life.  You will lose it.  Focus on the right things and you will gain life.

Remember the Christian life is not about “doing everything right.”  It is about “doing the right things.”  Seek knowledge, understanding, and above all, seek wisdom.

I hope you will not find this essay too “preachy.”  The wisdom is not mine.  The wisdom for living a full and successful life is found in the revealed Word of God.  So how can I not use His