Nuggets 21: Mom and My Career
in Crime
I went down the street to play with neighbor
kids. I could not have been over five. One of the kids had a neat
button pin with a picture, the kind you pin on your shirt. The button
got passed around and laid down. I liked the button, so when it was
time to go home, I picked it up and left. "Where did you get the button?",
Mom asked. I had to tell her. Without hesitation she said, "We are
going back to that place. You are going to return the button and say
you are sorry." We did, and I did. I wish I could claim a perfect
life after that. But I did remember the experience. It and seed from
my parents eventually formed in me a desire to respect the property of
others.
Mom was also strict about our afternoon rest. We
didn't want to stop playing but we knew we had to lie down and listen to Mom
reading to us from a Bible story book. It is amazing how learning adds up
a little at a time. At a relatively young age we kids knew the basic
stories of the Bible. Now we are so glad our mother was like
that.
My wife's father was tragically killed, leaving a
wife with four young children and another on the way. His strongest wish
was that his family have a devotional together every day. Ruth's mom
struggled to provide for the children but she always made time to honor her
husband's tradition. Even when the kids were in high school, they
knew they could not leave for a date or school event until they had read and
prayed together for that day. I am sure they complained at times but they
all became outstanding servants of God.
Neither of our moms would ever waver when it came to
putting first things first. They loved us more, not less. Because
mothers shape their children, they determine more than anyone else what
society becomes.
2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-17; Exodus 20:12; 1
Samuel 2:19; 2 Chronicles 22:3; Proverbs 15:20; 23:25;
31:1,10-31; Luke 2:51; John 19:25-27;
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Copyright 2006 by G.B. Shelburne, III. May be freely reproduced or forwarded for non-commercial purposes provided content is unchanged and this copyright notice is included. These shepherding messages are sent to members and friends of New Beginnings Church (www.nbchurch.com), to students and alumni of South Houston Bible Institute (www.shbi.org), and to other interested persons.
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