My Own "Lois and Eunice"

"Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also." - 2 Timothy 1:4-5

In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he commends Timothy for his sincere faith. There are a lot of things that people can say about us but we could only hope for such a complement being paid to us as Paul was giving to Timothy. As I read the New Testament, I see where the early church had to deal with those that would profess faith in Jesus Christ but then turn away and teach another gospel. We constantly have to be on the lookout for false teachers. Timothy however was not a false teacher; his faith was sincere. Timothy had a heritage of faith in his family with his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Now their faith did not save him, but it was taught to him and he along the way accepted the gospel himself. He was extremely fortunate to have such women in his life that brought him up in the ways of the Lord.

Personally, I have my own Lois and Eunice that I am extremely thankful for and with Mother's Day soon approaching I want to thank them.

When I was about to turn five years old, my parents separated and eventually divorced so I lived with my mom and she raised me. I tell people all the time that I was raised in a single-parent home before it was cool. I think back on it and even today it still brings me a lot of pain but that's a different story for a different day.  I think my mom was 25-26 at the time; young enough to restart her life if she wanted to. She could have tossed me aside and started again without any baggage but she chose to raise me. I remember not seeing my mom too much as a child because she would work forty plus hours a week and then go to school at night to try and better herself. She did this I'm sure for herself but also because she had a child to raise. It would have been easy for her to stay at home and rest on Sunday but every Sunday we would go to Sunday School. She not only would attend but she would actively serve in the church nursery and with the youth ministry. She would work all that time and still find the energy to come to all my Boy Scout and Band activities. Mom, I cannot thank you enough for everything that you have done and still do for me including your love and prayers!

My grandmother began babysitting me when I was two weeks old and I thank her for what she has poured into my life. I'm sure there were a lot of other things she could have done besides keeping me. When my mom had to work and go to school, it was my grandmother that stepped in and I can never thank her enough. She set the example of a committed Christian and served her church up until she just could not physically serve any longer. When many people left my home church (including me) she stayed and was committed to her church. Stubbornness though may be a quality that she is known for and passed on to others :) For many years, she has served as a mentor to me and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate what she has poured into my life. Granny, thank you for always being there, praying for me and loving me.

I thank God for my own "Lois and Eunice."