I stood aside as Denny, a retired police officer, slowly worked through the church narthex. The tall man bent to be at eye level with each child in the church narthex between Sunday morning services.
A Community of God’s Love
“No one takes the time to talk to children,” Denny explained. “After getting approval from the parents, I talk to the kids.”
Denny is an example of a “mothers and others” community that wraps children in God’s love. What Denny does each week isn’t included on any list of “spiritual activities for children” but demonstrates generational faith in action.
Denny follows a long line of believers through the years. The Christian community was evident at the first Pentecost. In Acts 2, we read that early Christians shared fellowship, food, and prayer. In Acts 4:35, believers shared possessions with those in need.
Although gender impacted the roles of men and women, women in the New Testament did not stand on the sidelines. Involved in evangelism, teaching, prophecy, and discipleship, first-century women were integral in the life of the church.
Nurturing Power
Jesus acknowledged this nurturing power when He told the people of Jerusalem, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings” (Luke 13:34; Matthew 23:37). Even Paul, frequently labeled a chauvinist, referred to numerous women as fellow workers. He so named Mary (Romans 16:6), Priscilla (Romans 16:3), and Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:3), and the list goes on.
Fast forward to today: Twenty-first-century women often become the spiritual head of the household. Perhaps this happens by default, but in many families a woman is the spiritual nurturer. That role sometimes carries through generations.
Yet all Christians, both male and female, share the goal that children come to know Jesus as their Savior. And it begins so simply: Wrap a child in your love, then cover her with the love of Jesus.
Years ago, I needed “simple.” With three children under the age of four, I was often overwhelmed. Perhaps your parents collapsed into bed each night too!
Little Signs
But throughout some very exhausting days, God sent little signs of His presence. One day, a person at the grocery store helped occupy the children in my cart as we waited in line. I remember the moment but don’t even recall the name of the store. On weekend mornings, an older church member delivered our oldest child to Sunday school. And sometimes, the church janitor invited our tractor-loving son to ride with him on the lawn mower. Throughout the years, God sent the right person at the right time. What a meaningful way to demonstrate the words of 1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful.”
Just recently, Josh, our oldest grandson, reminded me that counting on God is always the right decision. When I offered to provide prayer cover during a job interview, Josh responded, “I always know you are rooting for me.” My heart overflowed with thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness to the “mothers and others” who showed Josh how to grow up with Jesus.
I know that moms aren’t perfect; after all, I’m one of those sinners. But we imperfect moms today trail behind a long line. The biblical Sarah laughed at God’s promise of a child. Rebekah deceived her husband so a favorite twin could receive an inheritance he didn’t deserve. When today’s children don’t even bother to go through the motions of being a Christian, sins knock us down. But God never stops loving us. He knows exactly what’s happening. How often we depend on Jesus to lift us up!
And how often I pray for the community of “mothers and others” to wrap our loved ones in God’s love when we are miles away. The Christian community is a treasured gift of God that I cherish.
Years ago, I sent our children off to school each day on the wings of prayer. I’ll do that same thing when our grandson starts college this fall. For when we cover a child, tween, or teen with prayer, we can be certain God is walking alongside.
Although we might be a thousand miles away from those who are in our hearts, God is right there. Those who God has selected to be the “mothers and others” will walk alongside when we can’t. For those people, too, will nurture our children to fall in love with Jesus.
Scripture: ESV®.
Read more from award-winning educator and best-selling author Mary Manz Simon in her collection of books for children and families.
