God Uses the Faithful

From the other end of our house, I could hear her beautiful voice singing, “Oh, what needless pain we bear—all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer” as she did chores. My little seven-year-old self enjoyed hearing Dorothy sing in our home. She carried joy in her being and wore a huge smile.

My mother’s illness kept her from getting us three kids up for school in the morning or fixing us meals. However, God provided her with a helper, and her name was Dorothy. She came to our home Monday to Friday, early morning until late afternoon. She woke us up, prepared breakfast, got us off to school, took care of our house, and prepared a meal that we warmed up for our family dinner at night. In many ways, Dorothy filled the traditional mother role in our lives.

If I could turn back the hands of time, or if she were still alive on earth, I’d like to give Dorothy a vase full of beautiful flowers and a nice card with “Happy Mother’s Day” in great big letters on the front. Not until I was older did I grasp the influence she had in my life. God used her consistent example of dependability, kindness, joy, patience, and gentleness to plant seeds of His great love in my heart. I am eternally grateful.

I believe God uses His faithful to influence children in various ways. In my life, it was Dorothy. In the prophet Samuel’s life, it was a priest named Eli. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, made this vow:

“O Lord of Heaven's Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime.” (1 Samuel 1:11)

When Samuel was a young boy, his mother brought him to the Lord’s temple to honor her vow. Eli’s home provided the foundation for Samuel’s faith.

Mother’s Day provides a perfect time to honor our mothers and those who loved and cared for us as mothers. It’s also a reminder to those who may not have a child to look for opportunities to reach out to children in their realm of influence with the love of Christ. Who knows whether this might be the very reason a child will keep an open door in their heart for the Lord.

When I get to heaven, I’ll be so happy to thank Dorothy. Maybe with a big vase of flowers and a card, if such things exist there.

May our joy in the Lord draw others to new life in Him!

~

Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.