THE WOMEN BEHIND THE MAN
Timothy, the spiritual son of the Apostle Paul, was a youth when he entered the ministry. In fact, he may have had the first “youth” ministry in the history of the church (whether he wore a cap and sported a whistle is still unknown).
Fortunately, when Paul thought of his young protégé’s name, he didn’t think about youth ministry-related things, like campfire services, broken down busses, cookie crumbs mixed with crushed potato chips on the floor of the youth room, or Kum Ba Yah. Paul thought of one thing: Women.
Lest you take that the wrong way, let me quickly say it was two women specifically: Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Yes, Paul was reminded of the consistent, faithful lives of Eunice and Lois, Timothy’s mother and grandmother, respectively, when he would remember his spiritual son.
“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.” (2 Tim. 1:5)
“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.” (2 Tim. 3:14-15)
In the life of young Timothy, it was the training and discipline from these two women who taught Timothy the Scriptures at an early age that helped lay the foundation for a lifetime of genuine service and commitment to God’s kingdom. Timothy’s roots were grounded in his mother and grandmother, two women who were known, not for their public fame or celebrity status, but for their private contributions in building a life.
William Ross Wallace was correct when he poetically noted that “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” Truly, the vast bulk of history’s great leaders, whether spiritually, civically, organizationally, or militarily, were men and women into whom a hidden figure poured countless hours. Many of those hidden figures were mothers and grandmothers, women who may never be known widely but whose faithfulness, consistency and perseverance was felt personally.
To the moms and grandmothers at FFC—be the woman God can use to lay a foundation for the ones coming behind you. Serve as the prayer backbone of a young life, the roots to which he or she can cling when all else seems like shifting sand. Provide the scriptural support beams for a life that desperately needs structure and form. Regardless of who knows or doesn’t know, whether or not it’s Facebook approved or Twitter famous, and even if Instagram doesn’t instantly applaud your efforts, stay committed to and contented with the task of investing in a life personally. Your contentment with that task now may well be what impacts their commitment to God’s call later.
Pastor Todd