Women ask me if they should lead devotions since their husbands don't seem interested. My reply is always, “Yes!” Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5, “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that is in you also.” Timothy’s mother and grandmother taught Timothy God’s Word!
Tim Scott was on Focus on the Family this week. He is the
first African-American elected in a post-reconstruction South to the Senate; the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King who cared much more about the inside of a person and their character than
the color of someone’s skin. Senator Scott said a few things that were very
interesting and will be a HUGE encouragement to all single mothers or women who are married to unbelievers.
My mother, once she became a Christian, didn’t encourage
faith, she demanded faith and my grandmother prayed for us as well. So, I think
I started off with a solid foundation of faith from my grandmother as it says
in 2 Timothy, first chapter “Lois and Eunice.” Well, I had Lorita and Francis.
So those two women helped me to see the right path.
Tim’s father left the family when he was seven years old.
His mother worked full-time as a nurse’s aide and wanted her two sons to understand
hard work and not expect hand outs. He also said, “It was a blessing to be raised
by my mom, who spent so much time encouraging me with a switch. That could get us in trouble. Well, it can today. It didn’t then and
it got me out of trouble, by the way. I always say that the switch is the
southern apparatus of encouragement. My mama encouraged me a lot!”
He ended up going through a rebellious period for a few years but spoke these words of encouragement to mothers who have prodigals, “I found myself on
the wrong track. My mother never gave up. And if I ever had the opportunity to
talk to single moms with hard-headed boys, I will tell you that without
question, the Word of the Lord works. And if you don’t quit, most often amazing
things in a positive way will happen, unfortunately years down the road.”
At 18 years old, he rededicated his life to the Lord and
dove into Scripture. His mother’s and grandmother’s prayers were heard. His
mother raised him with a switch and the Word of God. They are two powerful tools
for raising children. {I know it is so politically incorrect to speak about a
switch today, but this has only been in the past 20 years. I was “switched” and
everyone I knew growing up was "switched" and we all turned out pretty good!}
So, dear single mothers or mothers with unbelieving husbands, you can raise godly offspring. Ben
Carson, another great African-American man, was raised by a godly, single mother and
grew up to be a pediatric heart surgeon and is running for president! With God
ALL things are possible! His grace is sufficient in our weakness.
