I’ve mentioned I have five grandchildren. They’re always a wonder, such a joy. A fleeting but constant thought I’ve had? How can I help them learn about Faith.

It may be universally accepted that our world today is a very challenging space to navigate. Fortunately, those of us who’ve lived through other cycles of societal dysfunction can draw on recoveries from past crises … calamities.But then I think. A child 13 today was born around 2005 or so. 9/11 was not a distant catastrophe. Imagine a developing child witnessing the reading of thousands of names at the sight of that fateful day. Then there was the financial crisis in 2008. The explosion of technology and it’s “in your face” volume of news and information. No wonder George Washington, the miracle of the moon landing don’t make the cut in today’s history classes.The real question for me is … how does a 13 or a 17 year old sort it all out. I don’t know how I would have. In many way today’s teens do. But then I ask. What about the foundation? A value system that since the beginning of time has survived every generation. Of course I’m talking about Faith. However one defines this for himself.

This must be made manifest by each of us individually. This past Christmas I gave my grandsons Daily Wisdom for Men. A book of daily Christian devotionals I’ve read for a year or so. A wonderful early morning ritual has evolved. Text exchanges between me and my grandsons … a study group of sorts. Each of us reads the message for each day and share the thoughts, observations we take into each new day. Here are young guys. In maybe the most formative weeks and months of their lives. So confusing, complex. Touching a bit of the value system for the ages. Found in the wonder of Faith.

More than just an intellectual grasping of the readings … we share current situations challenging us. How do our readings help us deal with a problem. What principals do we draw from to guide us through difficult times? How might we respond to something hard to understand how to behave … guided not solely by the motional reaction … but grounded knowing “What Jesus might do.” Our true role model for dealing with life here.I have no idea what paths my guys will travel. Where they will go to college, who they might marry someday. Even have fleeting thoughts about what gender they might declare themselves  some day. But this discipline … should we sustain it, gives me hope and confidence. Above all the joy of seeing his process evolve. See the words every morning that tell me, “Yes!”Oh, I have a 15 year old granddaughter too. I’ll be texting her today. There’s a copy of Daily Wisdom for Women waiting for her if she’d like to join in.