A Legacy That Lasts: The Spiritual Influence of Grandparents
The greatest gift a grandparent can give may not be something a grandchild can hold, but something they carry for eternity.
I am a believer today because my granny took me to church.
When I was a little girl, my grandmother lived on the same street as our family, so I spent a lot of time at her house. I fondly remember playing with her Bible flannel graphs. One Sunday, when she took me to church, I asked Jesus into my heart! She also gave me my very first Bible, writing these words inside the cover:
“Sin will keep you from God, but God’s word will keep you from sinning. Love, Granny.”
My granny probably never imagined how her simple acts of faithfulness would shape my life, but I believe I am living in the fruit of her prayers today. That’s the beautiful thing about grandparents. Their influence often reaches further than they will ever know.
A Faith Worth Passing Down
In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul reminds Timothy of the sincere faith that first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. I love that Scripture specifically mentions his grandmother. Her faith was part of Timothy’s story, just as my granny’s faith is part of mine.
Grandparents have a unique opportunity to influence the spiritual lives of their grandchildren. They bring a lifetime of wisdom, experiences, and stories of God’s faithfulness. Sometimes that influence comes through intentional conversations about Jesus. Other times, it happens in the ordinary moments of life—reading a Bible story, offering encouragement, praying together, or simply being present.
And sometimes those seemingly small moments become the foundation for something much greater.
Meet Covenant Grandmother Debbi Comparin
One Covenant grandmother who understands the importance of leaving a spiritual legacy is Debbi Comparin, grandmother to four CCA students. Debbi and her husband, Tony, are celebrating 50 years of marriage this October. They have three married children and nine grandchildren, and Debbi has enjoyed many opportunities to be involved in her grandchildren’s lives at Covenant.
When asked what she hopes her grandchildren will always remember about her, Debbi’s answer was simple and profound:
“That Jesus is my best friend!”
Above everything else, she wants her grandchildren to remember her relationship with Jesus. When asked how her faith shapes her approach to grandparenting, Debbi shared:
“I want to leave an eternal legacy for my grandchildren. The best way that I can do this is by spending time with them and sharing what God has done in my life.”
Debbi’s own grandparents left a lasting impression on her. Although they lived far away, summer visits filled her childhood with memories of feeling deeply loved and laughing until her sides hurt. She says they taught her to “love BIG and laugh MUCH!” Now she is passing that same love to another generation.
Living Out a Legacy of Faith
One thing I love about Debbi’s story is that her spiritual influence extends beyond her own grandchildren. As a year-round volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse, Debbi participates in Covenant’s annual Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing event. Each year, she visits our students as “Shoebox Sam,” using a rap she wrote to explain how each shoebox can become an opportunity to share the gospel with a child across the world.
Her grandchildren aren’t just hearing her talk about loving Jesus. They’re watching her serve Him. And that matters.
Grandparents Matter at Covenant
At Covenant Christian Academy, we believe Christian education is a partnership between the school, home, and church. Grandparents are an important part of that partnership.
Debbi shared that one of the things she values most about watching her grandchildren attend Covenant is seeing them memorize Scripture, develop confidence in their presentation skills, and learn to approach life’s circumstances from a godly perspective.
We are grateful for the wisdom, prayers, encouragement, and love our grandparents pour into our students. Whether they live nearby or hundreds of miles away, their spiritual influence matters.
That’s part of the heart behind our new Covenant Grandparents Association. We want to create meaningful opportunities for grandparents to connect, build relationships, pray, and invest in what God is doing in the lives of our students.
A Legacy That Lasts
To our Covenant grandparents: Never underestimate your influence. Your presence matters. Your prayers matter. Your stories matter. And the faith you faithfully live out before your grandchildren may become the greatest legacy you ever leave.
Keep praying. Keep sharing your stories. Keep pointing your grandchildren to Jesus. You may be planting seeds today whose fruit you won’t see in your lifetime, but what a beautiful privilege to be part of God’s work in the next generation.
“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.” — Psalm 78:4 (NIV)
Covenant Grandparents, You’re Invited!
Join us for our first Covenant Grandparents Association Kick-Off Coffee on Tuesday, October 27, at 8:15 AM in the Jireh Cafetorium. You can RSVP here.
Join us for coffee, fellowship, and an opportunity to hear more about our vision for connecting and encouraging grandparents within the Covenant community. No commitment is required—we would simply love to have you join us!
Discover a Dynamic, Christ-Centered Learning Environment Like No Other
We invite you to learn more about student life at Covenant Christian by downloading a Parent Info Packet or scheduling a tour. We look forward to meeting you and sharing the full range of opportunities available for your child on our campus!