Several months ago a young family began attending our church. The woman had already given her life to Christ, but her husband had not. When he made the decision to accept Christ she wrote a letter which was read before his baptism. I was so touched by her letter that I wanted to share it with all of you.
She emphasized the importance of family and a loving marriage and made me see that it is part of my job as a mother to help create a stable home. I realize there are many single parents out there who don't have this scenario, but I pray they also will take the positive aspects of her letter and think about what being a mother (or a father) really means.
As a mother, my relationship with my children's father creates the walls of security for our home, but the foundation of our home must be my relationship with my Heavenly Father.
I have not changed the letter except to omit names. I hope you are blessed.
(To my husband),
When I was little I would imagine what life would be like when I was grown up and married with a family of my own. This right here, right now is what would come to my mind. I wanted a man that would put God and his family above all the rest. I am so proud that you are making the decision to put the old habits to rest and rebirth new Christian habits. It is going to be hard; no one said it would be easy. Look around you. You have plenty of strong Christian people to keep you accountable as long as you let them help. Everyone needs a good example to follow.
Look at what you have taught (our daughter). You taught her the B-I-B-L-E song. She doesn't quite have all the words down yet, but you know what she is singing. You have taught her how to pray. She intertwines her fingers, bows her head and closes her eyes. We have to kind of laugh inside because she flutters her eyes trying hard to keep them closed and not worry about what is going on around her. Doesn't that make your heart sing that you are making a positive impact on her life? She is watching and mocking everything you do and say.
Not only are you influencing the kids' lives, but you are making an impact on all the lives around you. It's not only the people you know, your family, your friends, co-workers, church members, people you hunt with, but all the people around you that you don't know. It's the guy at the gas station, the clerk at the grocery store, all the people that live across the street from us. At any given time there is always some person watching what we do. So please keep in mind what you want to portray to others.
I'm so glad we are finally working together as a team. We are finally communicating and working on common goals instead of working against each other. I love this life! I just wanted to say that I am so proud of you. I know your family and friends are proud of you too. They will also help support and keep you on track with your new Christian life.
I love you with all my heart.
(Your wife)
Ephesians 5 says "a man must love his wife as he loves himself", but wives are cautioned several times in Proverbs. In 12:4, "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." In 19:13, "a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping". I assume that would mean a nag! This letter made me realize that the tone of my mothering is often set by my feelings of joy or failure as a wife and that I need to work on my marriage daily.
As we are honored this Mother's Day, I pray that we will turn our focus to our families as a whole and remember that God created parenting as a partnership.