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A Mother's Legacy of Faith

Wouldn’t Mother's Day be a great opportunity to share the gospel with a mother or grandmother you know? Who knows - sharing with that one woman could affect an entire family network. I know this is true, because it happened to me.

My Story
Not long ago, some good friends, Henry and Laura, shared the gospel with me. Up to that point, I had not been following the Lord. But once Jesus entered my life, my relationship with Him began to have an amazing ripple-effect on my entire family. This realization became clear to me recently during my stepson Trent’s wedding.

The weather was 'wedding perfect.' Trent and Sandi, his bride, were married outside in Henry and Laura’s garden. Then photos were taken in front of an old horse buggy. I thought it couldn’t have been more beautiful. But God had something even greater in store for the reception.

A Roomful of Changed Lives
Rob, the best man, spoke first. He started out by telling how his good friend Trent had smoked dope, shot heroin and drank excessively as a teenager. But then as a man, Trent came to know Jesus and that had changed everything. 

Trent hung his head throughout the first part of Rob’s speech. But he smiled as Rob talked about the positives changes that had taken place since Trent invited Christ into his life.

Trent met the Lord in prison. Strung out on dope, he had been abandoned by his family as a hopeless case. But Christ wasn't finished with him yet. I sent Trent a Bible while he was in prison and we talked often on the phone. Then one day, he made that very important choice to submit his life to God. He was finally free.

My mind wandered a bit as I looked around the room. My eyes came to rest on Sandi, Trent's new bride. She looked like a princess. Sandi had accepted Jesus as her Saviour only a few months earlier after I had shared the gospel with her during a multimedia, evangelistic campaign sponsored by Christian churches in our area, called Power to Change. We had seen many changes in her life since that day.

Then there was Todd, Trent's brother. He had also made a serious commitment to Christ recently and was attending an ALPHA program for seekers and new believers.

At the next table were my own two children: Kerri and Doug. Both had come to know the Lord through Trent and another close family friend. Trent was already passing on the freedom he had received.

Bringing Lives - and Wives - Together
My mind was jerked back to the present when I noticed Bonnie, Trent’s mother and the mistress of ceremonies, smiling at me. She had recommitted her life to the Lord during a women's outreach event at which I had shared my testimony.

When I tuned into what Bonnie was saying, I realized she was talking about me. She said that the wedding would not have happened without "Judy, my special friend."

What a miracle! Only God's grace could make the ex-wife and the present wife of the same man good friends. Together, we have worked incessantly to help our children improve their lives. And they have improved. Not because of our strength, and not because of our ability, but because of our availability and God's supernatural grace.

Bonnie asked that the parents of the couple stand up to be acknowledged. Six people stood, including me. As I did, I looked over at Tyler, my eight-month-old grandson in his little white tuxedo. What a legacy for this little boy! All the love and support of a family that focuses on God

Then I looked over at Henry and Laura. What a blessing this roomful of new believers must be to them. And all because they took the time to share Christ with me.

Build a Legacy!
Are there some mothers or grandmothers in your life who need Jesus? Take some time this Mother’s Day to tell them what Jesus has done in your life. You never know what kind of legacy will be built upon this simple act of faith.

Related Reading:
Interactive online studies
Discover the Spirit-Filled life
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Judy Christopherson has been an interior designer and builder for the past 20 years.