Grandparents Day, which is September 9, is a little bittersweet for me this year. It’s the first one since my maternal grandma, Lela Mae Jones, passed away on May 14. She was my last living grandparent, and I miss her every single day. Please join me in saying a prayer for grandparents.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this day, and thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for once again allowing us the opportunity to come before your throne of grace. We come before you today thanking you for grandparents.

So often, we focus on the role that parents play, and we forget to give grandparents their just due. We thank you for the ones who have stood in the gap, who have spoiled their grandkids rotten, who have loved on, disciplined, and prayed for their grandchildren. We pray for the ones separated by distance who are not able to see their grandkids as much as they would like.

Lord, thank you for the role that grandparents play in our lives. Thank you for all the Grandmas, Big Mamas, Nanas, Glammas, MaDears, Papas, Gramps and Granddaddies who love on us and our kids. We thank you for the ones who introduced us to you and your Word. We thank you for the ones who endured things we can’t even begin to imagine so we can have a better life. Please don’t let their sacrifices be in vain.

Lord, whether we are grandparents right now or will become grandparents in the future, bless us to be all that you will have us to be. Help us to instill in our grandchildren a love of you, and bless us to open our hearts to give and receive love in a new way.

Lord, we thank you this day and every day for grandparents. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.