Pastor John, we've received a number of emails that have asked a very similar question asked

by moms who are interested to hear your thoughts about their role in raising sons.

The first thing I would say to mom is teach the boy, teach your son.

If you're married, that is, if you're not a single mom, but if you're married, you

and he, together, teach the whole council of God to your son.

Here, my son, your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching,

Proverbs 1, 8.

My son, keep your father's commandment and forsake not your mother's teaching,

Proverbs 6, 20.

And there's that wonderful story, right?

Of Lois and Eunice in 2 Timothy, where Paul says to this young man,

continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed knowing from whom you learned it.

2 Timothy 314.

And who's that?

Chapter 1 verse 5, I am reminded of your sincere face, a faith that first dwelt in your grandmother,

Lois, and your mother, Eunice.

And now I am sure dwells in you because we know from Acts that his father wasn't converted.

He was a Greek and he wasn't a Christian.

And so it appears that Paul chose as part of his missionary band a young and I think we would say timid man

who had been almost entirely schooled by his mother and his grandmother.

And that, I think, should raise the stakes of a mom, a single mom in particular or a grandmother,

raise the stakes very high as to your mighty influence in shaping the life of a son.

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