I had the opportunity this morning to lead a children’s devotion at church, and will share it with you here.
The faith of our parents
Do you know the story of our first parents, back in the Garden of Eden? It was the most beautiful place, and everything was wonderful. But then everything changed, and things weren’t wonderful anymore. They weren’t in the Garden of Eden anymore. Life was going to be fragile and often difficult. Having children and getting through life in this world would come with pain and sweat and all kinds of challenges. And they’d face death someday too.
But even though they knew all that, do you know what they did? The man gave his wife the name Eve. That name means “life”—because, as the man said, “She would become the mother of all the living” (Genesis 3:20). The man we call Adam. That was a word in Hebrew that means man. He was the first man. Eve was the first mother. They are our first parents.
It took a lot of faith for Adam and Eve to believe that they would keep living and that bringing children into the world would be a blessing. They believed something God would later say to his people: “Surely I know the plans I have for you—plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Adam and Eve trusted that God was still with them and would watch over them. They believed God’s promise that a child one day would be born that would be their Savior, someone to rescue them from their troubles in this world. They held onto hope and clung to God’s promise with faith.
What you see here is a picture of my parents, from when they got married. My parents had five kids—I was the middle one. It took a lot of faith for them to raise a family and get through all the bumps and bruises and bigger difficulties that we all went through. The same is true for your mom and dad. Faith is what keeps them going—trusting God to keep them and you safe, and to get you through life when things don’t seem safe.
Of all the influences on you in this world, do you know has the most influence on your faith—on your spiritual life and beliefs? Surveys consistently show that it’s your mother.* That’s something to give your mom a hug for today on Mother’s Day. It takes great faith to be a mother, bringing up children. And along with your moms, your dads are guiding and shaping your faith day by day too. More than what you read in books or see on TV, more than your friends, more than teachers at school or other people you know—more than pastors, even—it is your parents who shape your faith. They share God’s love with you and help you to trust in the promises of God.
This is something God told us to do in our families—telling parents that they are to take the words and promises he has given and impress them on their children. God wants us to talk about his truths when we sit at home, when we go for walks together, when we go to bed at night and when we get up in the morning (Deuteronomy 6:6-8). So, keep doing what you’re doing at home in your families, talking about God’s promises and growing in faith.
God bless you and your mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers on this Mother’s Day and every day.
For additional thoughts on this topic, see this previous post: https://theelectricgospel.com/eves-faith-and-ours/
* S. Joseph Kidder and Natalie M. Darisme, Who Has the Most Influence on Your Spirituality? Andrews University Faculty Publications 2024
