Femme Friday- Eunice

 I still remember Eunice. She was the wife of a pastor. The church we were attending was new. Eunice was older. She had raised her kids. That didn't stop Eunice from mothering others. Eunice was always going around the sanctuary making sure others were comfortable. She also gave great advice. I recall a time when I was debating over whether to buy a new purse or not. She said her rule of thumb was that if she was still thinking about the object three days later, go and get it. That bit of wisdom has stuck with me. Eunice was a wise woman of God. I know she's up in Heaven celebrating Jesus with the other saints. 

Eunice in the New Testament was also highly regarded by those that knew her. Eunice was the mother of Timothy. A half-Greek, half-Jewish young man who was mentored by Paul. In the second letter Paul wrote to Timothy, Paul says to his mentee "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well". Eunice was a mother who instructed her son in the ways of God. Because that was what she had known as a child. 

Eunice isn't just a first generation Christian mother. She is the daughter of a Christian woman named Lois. Both of these women were known well as women filled with piety and humility. Meaning they devoted themselves to learning scripture and then also passing that knowledge to their children. Eunice was first Jewish, but then became a Christian. Regardless of which religion she practiced, Eunice was known to be a diligent student. 

How diligent are we in teaching our kids our faith? I tend to rely on Sunday sermons and youth group. Sure, we talk about being Christians at home. What that means for our family, how that might look outside our home. We participate in serving our community, hosting meetings with other believers and even using teachable moments to repeat moral lessons. But have I really done my job as their mom in raising kids that know the Word of God? Raising disciples who can go and make more disciples? Has my influence as a Christian woman been more than the influence of the world? Only time will tell. 

I pray that we are all like Eunice. Diligent in teaching our kids the Way of Jesus. Showing them by example and word how to live like our Savior. May the seeds we plant in our kids land on fertile soil and no other.