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It is not uncommon to
critique our mothering abilities – especially when we see our children stray
from the faith they grew up with.
However, don’t be deceived into thinking you have no further influence
or reach in their lives.
Once your children have
left the “nest” rest assured you can still pour Godly advice, comfort and wisdom
into them on a regular basis. The key to
doing it successfully is – moderation and
discernment.
As a tribute to Mothers –
below are three famous Moms and their sons…
Billy Graham:
[Excerpt from his biography]
Billy Graham said,“Jesus’ word picture of a
hen gathering her brood under her wing fits my mother. She saw to it that we
gathered frequently and regularly—and not just around the dinner table or in
front of the radio for favorite broadcasts. She gathered us around herself and
my father to listen to Bible stories, to join in family prayers, and to share a
sense of the presence of God."
On August 14, 1981, Morrow
Graham quietly left this earth in her sleep and entered Heaven.
"When word
came," said Billy, "I wept and yet rejoiced at the same time. Of all
the people I have ever known, she had the greatest influence on me. She and my
father didn’t have much education … But my mother was a woman of God. She
always had devotions with us, she always prayed with us, she always loved us,
and did so many things, as I look back now, out of the way. And she and my
father, when I was in Bible school, they would go up to a room upstairs and
kneel down every morning at 10 o’clock to pray for their son in Bible
school."
John Wesley and Charles
Wesley:
Susanna Wesley was the
mother of 19 children, including John and Charles Wesley. Through much
adversity, she dedicated her life to instilling a sense of Christian destiny
into each of her children. Her children
went on to change the world. Susanna Wesley believed that for a child to grow
into a self-disciplined adult, they must first be a disciplined child.
To her, the stubborn flesh was the hardest battle for Christians to fight, and
Godly parents would do well to equip their children to overcome it early. Susanna Wesley wrote:
"When the will of a child is totally subdued, and it is
brought to revere and stand in awe of the parents, then a great many childish
follies ... may be passed by…I insist on the conquering of the will of children
betimes, because this is the only strong and rational foundation of a religious
education ... when this is thoroughly
done, then a child is capable of being governed by reason and piety."
Moses - the Prince of Egypt
In Exodus 2 we are
introduced to Jochebed, the daughter of Levi - born to him in Egypt. She was the wife of Amram and was the mother
of Aaron, Miriam and Moses. Her courage
and ingenuity saved her son Moses from the wicked mandate of Pharaoh to kill
every male Israelite child. She cleverly
hid him for three months, before placing him among the reeds in a water-tight
basket along the Nile River.
As she watched Miriam
approach Pharaoh’s daughter, she must have been relieved to hear that she would
be nursing and weaning the child herself before handing him over
permanently. Those few early years were
no doubt full of Godly teaching and a loving example to that little Hebrew
child. Can you imagine the pain and
sacrifice she endured as she watched her young son disappear into Pharaoh’s
exotic palace to be raised as an Egyptian?
I believe Jochebed was an important part of
Moses’ life as a young child and into the reaches of adulthood. She no doubt had an influence on his
character, integrity and love for the Lord God of Israel. She also raised Miriam (the eldest) and
their brother Aaron, who appeared with Moses in front of the great Pharaoh of
Egypt prior to releasing the children of Israel. Were her children perfect? No way.
They all displayed major character flaws. All were reprimanded and punished by God for
their disobedience. However, all three
witnessed God’s Sovereign power, deliverance and blessing in their lives and in
their future destinies.
God’s Word tells us the
following:
Train up a child in the
way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs
22:6)
The rod and reproof give
wisdom: but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (Proverbs 29:15
The Apostle Paul recalled Timothy's spiritual heritage when he said, "I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also." (II Timothy 1:3-5)
This Mother's Day give yourself permission to ease your grading scale when you look in the mirror. Be less critical and more thankful as you open that Mother's Day card to read it. Your children want someone to admire, emulate and trust. Let that Someone be Jesus in you...
You most likely have more to do with your children's successes than their failures. The time you invested in their spiritual upbringing is not wasted. What you've poured into their souls is waiting to spring forth. Your prayers and petitions have been heard.
Trust that God will use it all to bring many sons unto the faith and to bring Him the Glory He is due...
Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
The Apostle Paul recalled Timothy's spiritual heritage when he said, "I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also." (II Timothy 1:3-5)
This Mother's Day give yourself permission to ease your grading scale when you look in the mirror. Be less critical and more thankful as you open that Mother's Day card to read it. Your children want someone to admire, emulate and trust. Let that Someone be Jesus in you...
You most likely have more to do with your children's successes than their failures. The time you invested in their spiritual upbringing is not wasted. What you've poured into their souls is waiting to spring forth. Your prayers and petitions have been heard.
Trust that God will use it all to bring many sons unto the faith and to bring Him the Glory He is due...
Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.
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