The Bible tells us that the parents are the key influencers in a child’s life. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says:
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise
Parents need to teach their children about God with their words, but also as an example in their everyday routine. We often look to a family with both parents intentionally teaching their children about Jesus and that is the ideal scenario; however, throughout the years, that is not always the case and in today’s American culture it seems that both natural parents raising a child together is becoming scarce. For whatever reason, there are several single parents, or parents where one follows Jesus and the other does not.
As we celebrate Mothers’ Day in the United States, I want to take a moment and look at a mother who raised their son to know God.
Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
While we don’t know that much about Lois and Eunice, we do know that they were Jewish and Timothy’s father was a Greek.
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. Acts 16:1 (ESV)
It was the faith of Timothy’s mother and grandmother that laid the foundation for Timothy coming to follow Jesus. They followed the principle, the command, in Deuteronomy 6 to teach their child the things of God. It apparently wasn’t just taking him to temple, but a lifestyle that reflected their faith in God in the home. Their actions mirroring what their words were saying.
Let us be thankful for the mothers who are doing their best to raise their children to know Jesus, especially the ones who are doing it on their own without the support of the child’s father. And for those women who may not have children of their own for whatever reason…. let us thank and remember them for the way they pour into the lives of others to help lead them to Jesus.