026 The Mentor Who Saved My Life: The Power of Christ-Centered Grandparenting with Lee Crayk

The Grandpa Channel: Grandparent Stories, Family Legacy & Life Lessons

What does a lasting family legacy look like in real life? In this moving conversation, Lee Crayk shares grandpa stories that model Christ-centered grandparenting: from writing letters to grandkids at graduation, to creating safety and stability for kids, to letting kids fail safely so resilience can grow. Lee opens up about coping with the loss of a parent, the mentors who redirected his path, long-distance grandparenting that still feels close, and the small, everyday choices that say “you belong.” If your heart beats for faith and family, this episode will give you simple ways to show up, speak life, and pass on a legacy that lasts.

In this episode:

• Legacy in ink: why Lee writes personalized, keep-forever letters to each grandchild at graduation (and what he includes).

• Safety first: practical ways to create stability—consistency, specific praise, and being “the steady one” in turbulent times.

• Holy permission to stumble: how to let kids fail safely and coach through it without rescuing too soon.

• Grief and grit: breaking a family pattern and coping with the loss of a parent while choosing the dad and grandpa you’ll become.

• Long-distance, still close: Sunday Zooms, specific check-ins, and asking better questions to stay truly connected.

• Faith that feels: everyday Christ-centered grandparenting—sharing spiritual experiences naturally, validating a child’s own witness.

• Small acts, big signals: kindness at a drive-thru window, gifting “the Alaska pants,” and other micro-moments that become family lore.

• Building family culture: second-Tuesday dinners, showing up for each other, and teaching grandkids to notice the forgotten.

Key takeaways

• Write it down. A handwritten letter (tucked in a favorite book) becomes a portable anchor of identity and love.

• Be the calm. Stability > perfection. Kids remember how safe they felt with you.

• Coach, don’t control. Let them try, fail, reflect, and try again—with you in their corner.

• Name the good. Offer specific, witnessed praise that tells them who you see they already are.

• Share your faith simply. Tell short, real stories of how Jesus shows up in ordinary days.

Try this this week

1. Text or DM one grandchild with three specific things you admire about them.

2. Start a “legacy letter” doc: one page, one story, one truth you know.

3. Put a recurring reminder to ask a specific question about their world (class, team, friend, project).

Episode keywords: grandpa stories; family legacy; writing letters to grandkids; creating safety and stability for kids; letting kids fail safely; coping with loss of a parent; faith and family; Christ-centered grandparenting.