I started asking myself about when others see me, (especially my son and soon this little wee one inside of me) observe how I go about my days, how I react, how I love, how I live, will they unmistakably see my Jesus in me? Years down the road on this journey of life will the testimony of my life shape Josiah’s love for the Lord because he witnessed his Beloved Jesus in His mommy? 

In 2 Timothy 1:5 Paul was talking to young Timothy saying, “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.” Timothy’s sincere faith that dwells in him was forged from the lap of his mommy. It dwells in him because of the sincerity of the faith he saw and emulated that was in his mother and his grandmother. 

And also in 2 Timothy 3:14-15, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it  and how from infancy you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 

Just as Paul is exhorting Timothy to continue in what he has “learned” and “firmly believed” because he (Timothy) knows those “from whom he learned it” (in this case his grandmother and his mother) Timothy knew their characters, their hearts, the “sincerity of their faith” (1:5) walked out in their daily lives. They showed him Christ though their lives, through their actions, and words, they instilled the holy scriptures in him from his infancy, planting those seeds through his childhood and all through his growing up years and because of that, because he sees Jesus in such a stunning display through the testimony of his grandmother and his mother, Timothy’s faith is sincere and rooted deeply. Because of the teachings he had at his mother’s knee, because her love for Christ so compelled her to teach her son and it spilled over every facet of her life. He saw Jesus, he fell in love with Jesus. Because of the impact his mother made on his life… because she allowed the LORD to flow through her to her son… and spill over into his life. 

“The Hand that Rocks the Cradle” 

Woman, how divine your mission,

Here upon our natal sod; 

Keep—oh, keep the young heart open 

Always to the breath of God! 

All true trophies of the ages 

Are from mother-love impearled, 

For the hand that rocks the cradle 

Is the hand that rules the world.

  William Ross Wallace (1819-1881)

A mother’s sincere faith and loving instruction in the way of the Lord will shape this child, an eternal soul, and in turn shape the world. What a vital truth I need to remind myself each day that my life and my actions are being watched, will my children see Jesus displayed? The atmosphere I create in my home will mold the minds, hearts, habits, and lifestyles of my children. What are we portraying to our children? How our we molding their minds, their hearts, their lives?  May it be eternal. Oh mothers, how divine our mission!

“Her husband went in unto her, and the LORD gave her conception…” (Ruth 4:13) 

There is a beautiful truth found in this verse. The Lord enabled Ruth to conceive.

The magnificent, mysterious, humbling truth is…despite the science (which the Lord created and saw good.) and a+b=c formula that confirms conception as natural and understandable and “just the way things happen” when a man and a woman are together, God *gave* me conception. He *enabled* it to happen. With one lifting of His divine finger, with one breath of His almighty decree He allowed a little soul to be created that He deemed necessary in His eternal plan…just as simply and perfectly as if He had seen fit *not* to give conception. It was a staggering thought to be reminded that every life: every unwanted pregnancy, lost pregnancy, preterm pregnancy, full term pregnancy — you name it! Every. one. came about because God enabled it. Human life is no mistake. It is not merely an inevitable end result of a man and a woman being together….it is a purposeful decision in the mind of the Creator of the universe.

So often we lose the wonder and beauty of how perfect are the ways of our sovereign Lord. We get lost in the “normalcy” of it all. The hum drum, mundane that is the way it always is and always will be part of life…but the glorious reality is…nothing the LORD does is mundane. For everything there is a reason. Shall we seek for his glory in the seemingly mundane moments of our lives? 

Let us ponder the true wonder, miracle, and precious gift each child is. The Lord saw fit to give me this child to me. He has enabled, he is sustaining, he has given. 

“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

A huge thank you to Allix Ruby for sharing this in the first place and allowing me to mix my thoughts with hers to share with you all.