In an Australian study of 186 older women, it was shown that spending the right amount of time caring for grandchildren can keep the mind sharp. Grandmothers who watched their grandchildren one day a week did better on cognitive tests than those who cared for grandchildren more often or not at all.
This study is continuing and researchers are trying to find out the exact reason why this is so and learning how social engagement affects elder acuity.
I believe that one of the reasons the results are so is because children are by nature very inquisitive. They look at life with a sense of wonder and delight. They ask all kinds of questions. They want to understand. They like to know why things happen a certain way and not differently. And when they ask grandma and grandpa for answers to their questions, the grandparent’s minds get renewed, revitalized and sharpened.
Why those who do not care for their children did not do as well in their cognitive tests is understandable. Those who cared for their grandchildren more often than one day a week may not have done as well because too many questions from little kids can be a source of mental fatigue and plain nuisance even. After all, nature has not planned grandparents rearing little children on a full time basis unless it is thrust upon them by unavoidable circumstances such as death or incapacity on the part of the parents.
My take here would be that we should find time to expose ourselves to youthful minds that look at life with the sense of wonder and welcome the opportunity to help them understand its mysteries and complexities. And most important of all, let us teach them faith in the Creator God who showed us His love by sending His Son to die for us so that we can have life forevermore. This was the case of Timothy whose faith was instilled and developed in him through his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice for which the apostle Paul rejoiced much about. (2 Timothy 1:5).