Sometimes tales from long ago refresh our hearts with hope and truth. This is one of those stories.
Once long ago a mother in the country we know as Algeria watched her brilliant 16-year old son walk out of her life.
Worse yet, he renounced the Christian faith in which she raised him. Nothing she said could change his mind.
She thought her heart would break.
Predictably, the young man took up with the wrong crowd and indulged himself in worldliness, even fathering an illegitimate child at age 18.
His mother, Monica, did what moms have done ever since Eve. She wept and prayed and prayed and wept.
For more than a decade young Augustine pursued the teachings of famous philosophers of the time in an effort to explore all things intellectual and thus achieve happiness.
Instead, he experienced recurring bouts of severe depression and grief.
His thirtieth birthday came and went and still he searched. Still his mother wept and prayed.
Finally he scraped bottom. One day he fell on his face in despair, sobbing, and cried out to God. Then it seemed he heard a child's voice chanting, "Take and read. Take and read."
He opened a Bible to Romans 13 and read verses 13-14. At once his heart was changed.
Augustine soon was was baptized and became a strong believer in Christ. Not so long after that, his mother Monica died, her heart at peace.
That same man, once the despair of his mother, wrote these timeless words
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.
Thou hast created us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.
Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.
The years of pain and wandering worked spiritual depth in Augustine and it comes through in his writings.
He turned his superb mind to learning more about Jesus and pondering what faith meant and authored many books still treasured by believers.
This story still speaks--to each of us, whatever our life situation
Nuggets of truth leap out at us.
- Never give up! Not on anyone or any situation. You've heard me quote Jeremiah 32:27 before:
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"
- If you're a mom, never doubt what your love and your faith are worth to your child.
Your tender, loving care of your children helps them grow into themselves. As you model faith, they notice, even when they seem oblivious.
We are called as moms to be faithful. To reach out, even when we're not sure anyone sees or hears. To make the first move, again and again and again. To keep on praying and yes, sometimes, to keep on shedding tears.
To never give up.
Our loving Father knows. He cares. And He uses all of it, all our pains and all our griefs. Within our children.
Within us.
God bless you with His strength and peace, my friends,
Lenore
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