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This book is about grandparenting as a Christian vocation for the afternoon and evening of life. The author presents the unconditional love of a grandparent as indicative of a vocation, a calling from God. He explores the vocation of grandparent in all of its multiple dimensions of being and doing, including play and joy and laughter.
List of contents
Introduction: Consider a Possibility-Grandparent as a Calling, a Vocation
Biblical Perspectives on the Grandparent VocationThe Grandparent Initiation-The Grandparent's CallA Pause for Perspective-How We got HereDiscerning My Unique Grandparent Role(s)Called to Celebration, Laughter, and Play with My GrandchildrenGrandparent Presence through a Grandchild's Years (and Mine)Called to Compassion for Other People's GrandkidsThe Call to Be Parent to One's Children's ChildrenOur Grandchildren's PlanetCalled to Communicate about Our Faith and Values Leaving a LegacySurprised by Joy and Spiritual Growth on the Grandparent JourneyPostscript: The Grandparent Vocation in the Declining Years
Appendix A: The Twenty Questions
Appendix B: Websites That May Be of Interest
Bibliography
Index of Bible Passages
About the Author
About the author
Richard P. Olson has served as pastor or staff member of churches in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Kansas. He has been a pastoral counselor and a teacher in college. Most recently, in early retirement years, he was the distinguished professor of pastoral theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, from which he retired in 2016. He received his bachelor's degree from Sioux Falls College, MDiv and STM from Andover Newton Theological School, and PhD from Boston University (social ethics). He was also a fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. He and Mary Ann, his wife of sixty-five years, have three daughters, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. They have relished their roles with this family. It is out of this journey and conversations with other enthused grandparents and grandchildren that this book was created. In 2018, they moved to a retirement community, Oakwood Village at Prairie Ridge in Madison, Wisconsin. This move brought them closer to family members and more frequent contact with the grandchildren and great grandchildren. This is the twenty-first book for which he is author or co-author, the most recent being Laughter in a Time of Turmoil; Side by Side: Being Christian in a Multi-faith World; A Guide to Ministry Self-Care: Negotiating Todays’ Challenges with Resilience and Grace; and Celebrating the Graying Church: Mutual Ministry Today, Legacies Tomorrow (the last two are also Rowman & Littlefield publications).
Summary
This book is about grandparenting as a Christian vocation for the afternoon and evening of life. The author presents the unconditional love of a grandparent as indicative of a vocation, a calling from God. He explores the vocation of grandparent in all of its multiple dimensions of being and doing, including play and joy and laughter.
