Without Ceasing

By Josh Miller

When describing my mother, the first thing I always say is that she is the Godliest woman I've ever known.  This is true, and in no way is it an overstatement.  Sadly, the preciousness of this quality was lost on me for the first 23 years of my life.  Her treasuring of scripture, constant prayer, and gracious attitude was somehow invisible to me.  Sure, I saw these qualities, but I failed to recognize any value in them.

One of the things in particular that I really appreciate and admire about her is prayer.  When this woman says she'll be praying for you she means it!  She's got about thirteen women who pray with her, too.  I've often felt like she has this special express lane privilege to the throne of God, due to the amazing effectuality of her prayers!  I guess you really rely on prayer when you have six kids, all of them rebellious at some point.

Since before I was in high school, she has always tried to share her passion for the persecuted church with me.  I remember so many times my apathetic response of, "Oh, that's cool mom" as she shared, sometimes through tears, about her desire to pray for these brothers and sisters.  Ugh, thinking back on my own reactions makes me sick at times.  Ironically, God has placed the same burden of prayer on my heart in the past year.  Those years of her sharing her heart were not in vain!  I'm so blessed to have a mother who trusts the Lord, who prays without ceasing, and who dearly loves her children.  Although I regret not gleaning more of her knowledge from her personal studies, our relationship is so much sweeter since we have a common treasure:  Jesus.

Now, at times, in my discouragement I can look to her as a shining example of a follower of Christ.  In those moments my heart resounds with the exclamation; she walks with God!  May not I do the same?