Being a grandparent is the ultimate cool. It’s hard to explain until you become one — but once you join the club, you get it.
Hope looks like a photo from your grandchild listing their three favorite things in life — and you’re on the list.
As your parents did for you, if you are able, create life. You won’t regret it.
Disclaimer: Not every person is called to have biological children. Your vocation may be to become the best step-grandparent, aunt, uncle, godparent, or mentor in history. Young families desperately need support, and those roles are sacred.
A dear family friend has served as a second grandma to a family of four, helping them navigate a complicated life schedule. She has left a lifelong imprint on both the children and their parents.
Our callings from God are from God. We may not understand the hardships on this short pilgrimage we call life, but we can draw strength from knowing that
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
In the words of Charlie Kirk, one of my heroes:
“Having a family will change your life in the best ways, so get married and have kids. You won’t regret it.”
1. The “selfish” reason
To receive life to the fullest, you must give life.
And then you must nourish that life so he or she can bear fruit.
“A child is the living reflection of their love … and a permanent sign of their conjugal unity.” — St. John Paul II. (Conjugal is from Latin “conjugalis,” meaning joined together as spouses … you get the picture).
Gourmet restaurants (a.k.a foodies), exotic trips, and material comforts fade.
But the shared experience of raising a family creates a legacy of joy that outlives us.
I once heard it said, “The only things you can take to heaven are your spouse and children.”
2. The spiritual reason
God commands us:
“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.”
— Genesis 1:28
It may not be fashionable to follow the teachings of our Christian faith, but it aligns perfectly with true joy.
“By giving life, parents become God’s co-workers.”
— St. John Paul II
And Scripture affirms:
“Children are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward… Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”
— Psalm 127:3–5
3. The civic reason
Our society needs families again.
Decades of misinformation led people to believe that “overpopulation” threatened the world. Today, the opposite is true: we are not producing enough children to sustain our society, economy, or entitlement programs.
The most effective and morally right way to reverse the trend is to stop killing children in the womb.
Since 2019, more than five million babies have been aborted in the U.S., averaging close to one million per year.
“A nation that kills its own children has no future.”
— St. John Paul II
4. The joyful reason
Having children is fun.
And being a grandparent is better.
To all the young parents out there — keep those babies coming!
Signed,
A grateful grandpa
