Mother’s Day

In honor of my mom, Marjorie Workman,
WNAC Executive Secretary-Treasurer

I Samuel 1:27 & 28b
“For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.”

So often people pray for a child and promise to dedicate them back to the Lord, but what does that mean? For Hannah, it literally meant physically giving Samuel before he was five years of age back to the priest for life-long service in the tabernacle (I Samuel 1:24). She only saw him once a year at the annual sacrifice (I Samuel 2:19).

Unfortunately, it seems like today many moms aren’t even willing to send their kids away to Christian college or ministry, even with the expectation of holiday and summer visits. If we truly dedicate our children back to the Lord we must be willing to let God call them to do whatever-wherever-whenever.

When my mom left North Carolina at the age of 18 for Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee she would never return to live there again permanently. She would live in three different states working in various Christian ministries each time. None of them have brought much monetary gain, but I have no doubt they’ve brought many priceless crowns awaiting her in heaven.

Since I married in 1995 I have never lived in the same state as my mom. I also realize the same might be true for my own daughter one day. I only hope I can pass on to her the same sentiment my mom taught me and her mom before her: I would rather my child be in God’s will and live far away, than to live close to me but be out of God’s will.

Jennifer Beauchamp
Florida