The light from her lamp illuminated the base of the door to my bedroom. I can still remember waking up and walking to edge of my door to make out what her whispers said. I could hear faint words, “Lord, would you protect my sons…would they grow up to love you…would they love your word.”
She was up early, working hard, fighting back the darkness with her bible open and her heart set on seeing the gospel impact the life of her home. No one was watching. There was no attendance sheet, she didn’t Instagram (as if that even existed back in the days of the VHS) her open bible and steaming tea. She moved from prayer, to making breakfast, and then we hopped in the car as she drove us to school.
Later in life, when I would be active in sports or music, I could hear mom’s voice piercing through crowded stadiums or auditoriums…so proud of me or my brother. But as loud and clear as her voice was during those games, those performances, my mother never spoke more loudly then when she surprised the sun in the morning (with no eyes to commend her) and sat silently reading from her bible and praying.
I heard my father’s voice all the time as a child. Preaching and preaching and preaching…not in a disingenuous or annoying way, but by nature of his occupation…his faith was very “vocal.” So when I go up to preach I can hear decades of my father’s sermons…they form the background music to my calling. But when I wake up early, place my bible in my lap, and close my eyes to pray…I hear the song of a faithful mother. My devotion is a song that is sung to the sheet music that my mother has written.
Before I had ever read Proverbs 31, before I had ever considered what I hoped for in a Godly wife, my mother was teaching me daily. I am more of a man because of the impact my mother had on me.
Mom, thanks for the silent times…every morning when I wake up…they are the loudest songs I hear.
Some of my fondest memories as a child include time that I spent with my mama (and I still call her that). Though I was an outdoor and sports fanatic, and my mom being the opposite, she always found ways to build the relational bridge with me. Furthermore, she taught me to have fun, laugh a lot, not care too much about myself, and care more about loving people than pleasing them. Anyone who has ever seen my mom and I in the same room can instantly see her influence on my life. She’s a gem and jewel. I love her greatly and thank God for her influence on my life.
Kyle Worley is Connections Minister at the Village Church in Dallas, TX. He is the author of Pitfalls: Along the Path to Young and Reformed and blogs regularly at The Strife. He holds a double B.A. in Biblical Studies and Philosophy from Dallas Baptist University and an M.A. in Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is pursuing a M.A. in Religion at Redeemer Seminary. You can find Kyle on Twitter @kyleworley.
Greg Gibson serves as the family pastor at Foothills Church in Knoxville, TN and as the assistant editor of Manual for CBMW. He has a lovely wife and 2 children–Cora and Iver.
TWITTER: @gregrgibson
Dr. David Schrock pastors Calvary Baptist Church in Seymour, Indiana. A two-time graduate of Southern Seminary (M.Div., Ph.D.), David has written and reviewed books for The Gospel Coalition, Credo Magazine, and PureHope Ministries. He also blogs at Via Emmaus.
David is married to Wendy. They have two energetic boys—Titus and Silas—and another child on the way. Now that he is done with school, he drinks coffee a little slower and plays ball with his boys a little faster.
You, too, can help support the ministry of CBMW. We are a non-profit organization that is fully-funded by individual gifts and ministry partnerships. Your contribution will go directly toward the production of more gospel-centered, church-equipping resources.
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