The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 1:5, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you,

which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice,

and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

In some ways this seems a strange verse to use in this setting. What

attracted me was the faithful lineage that led to Timothy’s salvation.

Nothing is really known about “grandmother Lois.” The name Lois

has no known meaning. What we do know is that her faith in the

LORD Jesus contributed immeasurably to the conversion of her

daughter Eunice, whose name means “victorious,” and she was the

mother of Timothy. Further, the spiritual teaching and training of young

Timothy came from these two women, who had no reason to believe

that he would one day be the companion of the Apostle Paul, preaching

and teaching the faith they had learned and taught him to believe.

Think about this: notwithstanding the value of a father in the home

environment, it is the mother who spends the most time with her

children; therefore, it is her values that are implanted in the children.

William Ross Wallace knew this when he wrote:

Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace.
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

The faith you embrace is the faith that will be transmitted into the

lives of your children. And their faith, in turn, will be transmitted into

the lives of their children. Thus, what we are as parents will largely

determine the faith and value of generations to come. Dare to march

against worldly folly and live for Christ. For as you do, you are implanting

saving faith into the children you will one day know as your own.

May the LORD bless you abundantly is our prayer,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”