A Grandmother, A Mother and A Boy

The story is told of a mother who quit work out in the marketplace so that she could take care of her new baby.  This was precious time to her, but eventually the countless hours of peek-a-boo and other games slowly took their toll.  One evening she smacked her bare toes on the corner of a dresser and, grabbing her foot, sank to the floor.  Her husband rushed to her side and asked where it hurt.  She looked at him through tear-filled eyes and managed to moan, “It’s the piggy that ate roast beef.”
 
Sometimes mothers might wonder if what they do for their family really matters, but I would like to remind mothers everywhere that, yes, what you do really matters.  For example, in the New Testament we read about a young woman named Eunice who was raised in a religious home and was greatly impacted by her mother Lois.  She loved to learn the stories from the Bible when she was young, and she enjoyed going to worship services where she could learn about God.  As she approached her teenage years, she was still focused on spiritual matters but she became attracted to a young man who was not into religion at all.  No doubt, against the best wishes of her godly mother and the teaching of her faith, she married the man.  He was a nice guy, but he didn’t believe that spiritual matters were important (see Acts 16:1).
 
After a couple years of marriage, Eunice and her husband had a baby boy who they named Timothy.  Eunice and her mother Lois poured their faith into young Timothy, teaching him the stories of the Bible, praying with him and for him, and training him in the things of God.  They didn’t have Veggie Tale videos or youth group, but they created a spiritual environment where Timothy could flourish.
 
Then one day a preacher named Paul came to their town of Lystra and spoke about a man named Jesus.  Both Lois and Eunice listened intently and recognized that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises.  They placed their trust in Him and became followers of Jesus.  They passed on their faith to their grandson and son, and Timothy also came to believe in Jesus as his Savior.
 
We know from the book of Acts and from 1 & 2 Timothy that Paul and Timothy partnered together eventually in spreading the Gospel and leading churches so that the message of Jesus spread.  Through his two letters to Timothy, Paul coaches the younger Timothy in the ways of leadership and ministry, making mention of the impact Lois and Eunice had on the child (2 Timothy 1:5).
 
Mothers and grandmothers can still intentionally impact future generations to respect Scripture, develop an authentic faith, and to serve Jesus.  We thank God for you.
 
Happy Mother’s Day,
Tyler