The unsurpassable value of a righteous, praying Momma

“… The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (Mother, Mom, Momma, Mama) avails much.” James 5:16 (NKJV, parenthesis mine)Forrest Gump’s momma always said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." I am not sure how true that is having bought my share of See’s Chocolates over the years. However, I do know when it comes to kids you really don’t know what you’re going to get. Sure, you can determine the sex long before the birth, as well as various health issues, and even who the biological father is. But still you don’t know if that child is going to be mild one or a wild one, short or tall, athletic or clumsy, a climber or a biter, an artist or an engineer, healthy or his or her doctor’s best friend, obedient or rebellious, kind or abrasive, quiet or an avalanche of words, driven or relaxed, trouble or joy, musical or tone deaf, adventurous or shy, scary smart or having to work hard for everything, spiritual or godless, fashion conscious or oblivious, out-going or shy. You don’t know what their interests, their sense of humor, their aptitudes, and their likes and dislikes will be. Talk about not knowing what you get, not to speak of what you’re getting into. That’s why having and raising children is exciting, challenging, rewarding, worrisome, exhausting, mind-numbing, exhilarating, full of surprises, and prayer inducing.Hands down two of the best things that could ever happen to a child is having a Momma who knows how to pray and who is righteous (the same can be said for Dads as well). There is no way to get being a parent right - you will mess up, guaranteed. You will also be misunderstood, blamed, disrespected, under-appreciated, and considered incompetent among other things. You will discover your limitations and be frustrated not only with your children but also yourself, but oh the value of a righteous Mom who knows how to pray.Being righteous means a person cares about God, His son Jesus Christ, His written Word (the Bible), His will, His values, and His ways so much you live your life accordingly. It shapes who you are and what you want your children to be. It means your children get to watch godliness being lived out. God unequivocally says He blesses those and their children who love Him like that.Fervent prayer is more than crisis praying, emergency calls to God when things are going haywire. It is a habit, a commitment to seek God, to lay hold of God and not let go. It is more than praying for protection for your kids. It seeks for God’s will to be unfolded in their lives, for an unquenchable thirst for the things of God to lay hold of their hearts, for righteous habits to form, for wise decisions to be made, for faith to grow and be experienced.Even though I am not a Mom, I have witnessed and experienced the unsurpassable value of a righteous praying Mother in my Grandmother, my Mama, and Susie the mother of our children.Happy Mother’s day, love you, Pastor Hans