A Mom’s Influence

I grew up with a Mom who loved me deeply (she still does) and she guided me and encouraged me to follow the Lord. My grandmother (Mammie-aka Gladys Chelf Greer) also profoundly influenced my life. She was faithful to the Lord as well and she encouraged me to seek the Lord. She set a good example as her Bible was well read and I saw her live out her faith.

Some people are not blessed with a good Mom. I’ve met people whose mom left when they were kids. I’ve seen Moms addicted to drugs or alcohol and they are not good examples for their children. I think Athaliah was a very bad person – evil in God’s eyes. Check this out…

1 The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.

2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.

3 He too followed the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him to act wickedly. 4 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his undoing. (2 Chronicles 22:1-4 NIV)

I’m not sure if anyone has as much influence on a child as his or her mother. It breaks my heart to come across a Mom or a Dad who are so self-centered that they shirk their responsibilities to their children. I believe parenting is one of the highest and best responsibilities on the planet. I’ve learned a lot about God’s heart in parenting. I want to parent is such a way that God is honored. I want my kids to see me following the Lord and desire to walk with Him too. I can’t imagine being encouraged by my Mom to become selfish or to harm others. I can’t imagine a life without the Lord. I’m really grateful that I don’t have to imagine that.

Some of my favorite people and strong followers of God had to find Him on their own. They didn’t have help from their Mom or Dad. I simply encourage people to start reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament where Jesus is introduced from His close friends perspective. I also recommend the Psalms where we’re given a proper perspective of God the Father.

I’m so thankful that my parents told me about God in such a way I could see Him in them.

Pressing On!

Dwayne