Yesterday, on Mother’s Day, I was thinking about my own mom.  Perhaps we all did.  My mom has been gone for 30 years, but time doesn’t diminish the memories.   Memories of her kindness, memories of our time together.  And along with that, memories of things I wish I’d done or wish I hadn’t done.

I was blessed with a mother who was devoted to her Lord and to her church.  She taught me bedtime prayers when I was still so little.  She came into my room at night and knelt  in prayer at my bedside after I was fast asleep.  One night I wasn’t really asleep and saw her there; I pretended sleep; I don’t think she knew.

At the end of her life, her last words were a request to pray the Lord’s Prayer with my dad.  She labored slowly over the words, then closed her eyes and passed on.  The faith that lived in her is now my faith.  I pray that this faith will live on in my children and grandchildren.

The apostle Paul speaks of this as he writes his second letter to Timothy.  Timothy would continue Paul’s work of spreading the gospel.  Paul’s love for him is clear as he refers to Timothy as “my dear son.”  In 2 Timothy 1:5 Paul writes,   “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

Perhaps you also had a mother who led you with the example of faith.  Perhaps it was someone else in your life that blessed you in this way.   A sincere faith within you is an awesome gift.  Only our precious Lord with his unconditional love, can bestow such a gift. He chooses to use the hearts and hands of our loved ones to teach us and to lead us.

How can we show our gratitude?  Just pass on the faith we have so graciously received.

Pass it on . . .

Judy