Mom’s Spiritual Influence
I’ve been reflecting lately on the spiritual influence that my Mom had on me as a child. Early she cultivated my spiritual sensitivity and reverence for God. Daily she prayed with me and often spoke of my need to respond to God’s grace. This prepared me for my first response to grace at age 10 during a revival service.
Similar to Susanna Wesley (1669-1742), my mother raised five kids giving each one of us daily spiritual guidance. Like Susanna wrote commentaries on the creeds, Lord’s Prayer, and Ten Commandments; our mom gave similar lessons to her kids. From memory we recited the creeds, commandments, beatitudes, Lord’s Prayer, and psalms. She also taught the church youth class where we learned the catechism and rituals of the church.
Mom loved hymns and gospel songs. She sang them daily as she fed us and chanted them nightly as she tucked us into bed. Perhaps she didn’t think that we were listening, but we were! Israel’s ancient creed states: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” That best describes our Mom! Her love for God was conveyed into the hearts of her children.
Both our mom and dad were preachers and their five kids went to church several times weekly. I often joke that I was raised in a monastery! Perhaps not literally, yet reflecting on my childhood I sense that I had graduated from a seminary.
THANKS MOM! WE LOVE YOU.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. – Deut.6:4-9.
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