Faith-Building St. Patrick’s Day Ideas for Your Grandchildren

St. Patrick’s Day is coming. Are you ready? Not that we need an excuse to have fun with the grandchildren, but St. Patrick’s Day offers food, fun, and faith. 

I never forget St. Patrick’s Day. It’s my aunt’s birthday and hers is the day after mine, so I always remember it. But what’s not to love? Green clothes. Green food. How fun is that? 

But there’s so much more. 

1. St. Patrick and The Trinity

One of St. Patrick’s contributions to the Church was the use of the shamrock in teaching the Trinity. So, let’s talk Trinity.

In seminary, I had a whole class on the doctrine of the Trinity. My takeaway? Love lessons. 

Does it surprise you? It did me. Love 101 in the guise of Trinitarianism.

My experience with love in my growing up years wasn’t unloving, but it could hardly be called warm and fuzzy. My parents weren’t big huggers. Family meant duty, not love and affection. Even now, the extended family gathers only for birthdays and holidays, never just for fun.

But the Trinity? Father, Son and Holy Spirit? 

These guys go crazy expressing their love and support for each other. They are all about relationship. Here are a few highlights.

Each Member of the Trinity thinks, feels, and wills. (Acts 13:2)

Each freely chooses to act in unity with the other Two. (John 3:35)

Each has always been with the other Two. Forever. (Genesis 1:1-2)

Each values the other Two. (John 15:26)

Each gives selflessly to the other Two. (1 Corinthians 15:28)

Together They form community. They are complete in Themselves. Each is part of the Others. They are truly One. The holy Trinity models perfect relationship. So perfect in fact, that God needed nothing in addition to Himself. In and of Himself—Father, Son, and Spirit—all was perfect.

So, why did God make you and me?

Two reasons: grace and overflow. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit wanted to share Their perfect love—and guess who They picked? Us!

In creating man, the members of the Trinity have extended an invitation for us to join in the holy love and the unique bond that flows between the Godhead. That’s something worth sharing, so grab a shamrock and talk a little Trinity with the grandkids. 

2. St. Patrick and Forgiveness

St. Patrick’s Day is also the perfect time to talk about forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the greatest challenges in following Christ, and St. Patrick himself has quite the story. Captured by Irish pirates at age 16, Patrick was enslaved in Ireland where he worked as a shepherd. He escaped, but later returned.

As a missionary.

For 40 years.

What a role model. As you do all things green, talk about forgiveness. Whom do you struggle to forgive and why? How about your grandkids? I’m betting they can relate, to you and to St. Patrick. Pray for each other that you can forgive as God forgives us.

3. St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer for Protection

If you’ve never read this prayer, you’re about to be blown away. And if you have older grandchildren, this prayer might be a good one to frame and gift. Click here to read the entire prayer. This is the very last section, and will be our prayer today:

Christ with me, 

Christ before me, 

Christ behind me, 

Christ in me, 

Christ beneath me, 

Christ above me. 

Christ on my right, 

Christ on my left. 

Christ when I lie down, 

Christ when I sit down, 

Christ when I arise, 

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, 

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, 

Christ in every eye that sees me, 

Christ in every ear that hears me.

How will you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year? What resonates with you?

Talk up the Trinity with a shamrock.

Share about St. Patrick and his forgiveness for the Irish people who enslaved him.

Intercede for your grandchildren with the Breastplate Prayer.

Plant some shamrocks and wear some green. Take advantage of the fun of St. Patrick’s Day to build your grandkids’ faith. 

For food, craft ideas, and even some kid-friendly biographies of St. Patrick, click here for your St. Patrick’s Day Bundle.

Now, let’s hit the trail. See you out there. 

Next week: How to Write a Biblical Blessing for Your Grandchild.