My mother was a woman who loved God until the day she died, but it wasn’t always that way. My earliest
memories were more of her temper than anything else. We’d be okay if we could stay out of her reach until
she cooled off. I was about 10 or 11 years old when Mom gave her heart to the Lord. But it still took a while
for her to conquer that temper.
I remember one night at prayer meeting, she asked the minister to pray for her to have more patience. (I’ve
noticed temper and impatience seem to go hand in hand and it is often difficult to distinguish between
them.) He asked her if she was sure she wouldn’t rather have prayer for her temper quoting the verse,
“Tribulation brings patience.” But Mom didn't think she had a temper anymore - she just needed more
patience. And we kids could only agree.
Somewhere down the road the battle was won and thankfully, I can’t remember the last time Mom lost her
temper. I just remember it seemed she was a lot easier on my younger brothers than she was my sister
and I.
One thing I do remember was the night Mom dedicated us to God. I know that’s usually something that’s
done when children are babies but I was about 19. It seemed to me it was an evening service and we were
all around the altars praying. The Spirit of the Lord was present and we were caught up in Him. Mom came
over to me and told me she wanted to dedicate her children to God. I expect the pastor was as surprised as
we three children (my older sister had long since married and left home). To his credit he never missed a
beat. I don’t remember exactly what he said but I know he prayed earnestly for us.
The Scripture tells us of Godly women who influenced their children to follow the Lord. Some of them were
the mothers of kings; others were just ordinary wives like you and I.
One such woman that always comes to mind is Hannah. She was childless in a time when having children
was considered a badge of honor. And her husband’s other wife, who had children, took advantage of that
to oppress her. Year by year, she grew more desperate and though he was deeply distressed at her grief,
her husband could do nothing to help. Finally her desperation was such, she prostrated herself in tears
before God at the temple, promising if He would only give her a son, she would give that child back to Him.
Only her lips moved as she earnestly petitioned God. Finally the high priest decided she must be drunk and
moved to chasten her.
She assured him she was not drunk but in deep anguish of spirit. Speaking prophetically, Eli, the high
priest, said, “May the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” Hannah took hold of that Word
from the Lord. I Samuel 1:18 tells us she "went her way and ate and was no longer sad." If God gives you a
Word, hang on to that Word.
She soon became pregnant and gave birth to a son. As she had promised, after the child was weaned, she
gave him to God, not just in spirit; she took him to temple to live and serve the high priest. That child was
non-other than Samuel, the great prophet and leader of Israel. The Scripture tells us God closed her womb
so maybe God allowed Hannah to reach that point of desperation so she would fully give her child in service
to Him. Even before we are conceived, God has a plan for us.
We cannot overestimate the influence a Godly woman can have on her children. In 2 Timothy, Paul writes
to young Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy
grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that is in thee also. . .” He goes on to tell
Timothy to “stir up the gift of God.”
Both my grandmothers died before I was born, but I know I am a Christian in part because of their prayers.
Though not a single child was saved and though my grandfather only influenced his children away from
God, yet grandma persevered, praying always for her children and her husband. She died with none of
them knowing God. However, her prayers were remembered before the throne and one by one, they began
to come in. First it was my uncle and his wife, then my Mom and Dad, then another uncle and aunt and
even my grandfather, who was saved shortly before his death. I cannot say with certainty every one of her
children came to know God but I am sure most, if not all, of them did.
I only recently learned of the prayer life of my father’s mother when a family friend mentioned it in passing
but that knowledge blessed my soul. Today my husband and I pray for our children as our parents and
grandparents prayed for us, believing God they will all come in.
And one of these days, when I get to heaven, I want to hug my grandmothers and thank them for those
prayers.
And for you other praying mothers and grandmothers, I can only say, “Don’t give up.” You may be the only
one standing in the gap for your family.
