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Scripture testifies to the great start in life that Timothy enjoyed-he had a godly mother and and a godly grandmother, Eunice and Lois. It was similar for Samuel, whose mother was Hannah, a woman of prayer who no doubt upheld her famous son before the Throne of Grace throughout her life. In fact, despite the way in which women were generally regarded in ancient cultures, God makes it clear that they were never inferior to men, in His sight, and it is interesting to note the recording of the names of the various kings' mothers throughout 1 and 2 Kings. There doesn't appear to be any particular significance to such information except perhaps to make sure that the role of a mother is not to be be overlooked, even for kings, despite the fact that they would appear to have had little influence, in a godly way, over most of the kings of Israel.
So, "What is a mum?" as an old television advert for a certain washing powder started. She is much more than just someone who knows how to get her washing "whiter than white"-she is probably the single most influential person in any society. Could virtually all our society's woes perhaps be able to be accounted for by one simple explanation-the nation has 'lost' its godly mothers and grandmothers?
Compare the lack of influence of Christian mothers in the West with the religious fervour with which Muslim mothers encourage their sons in their faith, to the extreme of blessing them as they go off to be suicide bombers. Criminally insane in our western, Christian way of thinking but obviously the ultimate in some Muslim mothers' upbringing of their children in the faith, to see them go off to give their lives for Allah.
How our civilisation needs Christian mothers. No more privileged start in life can mothers give to their children than to wean them with a spiritual silver spoon, feeding them with an increasingly solid diet of the Scriptures (I speak from blessed personal experience).
God bless you godly mothers (and fathers!).
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