Unintentional Influence

The following article was published in the April 2011 Daughters of Zion newsletter. Although it is written from a mother/child point of view, it is very much applicable to KidsPrayer ministry and those that work with children. Daughters of Zion is part of the Ladies Ministries of the United Pentecostal Church International.

By Fayetta Holt

Scott Adams once wrote “You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential.  In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.”

Just as Timothy was influenced by the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, so was I greatly influenced by my grandmother and my mother.

One of the lessons I learned from my mother that stayed with me through my life, was “it’s never too late to pray”.  My siblings and I were running late one morning and the bus was in front of our home.  We were about to race out the door saying “we’re late….we’re late”.  Mother gathered us together to pray and said “it’s never too late to pray.”  It’s amazing how many times throughout my life that these words have come to me.

We have always made a practice of having devotions with our children as they were growing up.  Just recently, I received a phone call from a friend of one of my daughters when they were in the first grade. My daughter had invited her to our home at different times.  She told me what an impression it made on her young life for us to include her in our family devotions.  She said her family had never done this; however, she had determined that when she grew up and had a family she was going to have devotions with her children before they went to bed.  She is now doing this with her family.

Her phone call reminded me, that what was a normal practice in our home, became an unintentional influence in a young girl’s life.  Now, some thirty years later, her children are being taught the importance of prayer in their home.

Mother had no idea when she emphasized the importance of taking time to pray, that she not only was influential in her children and her grandchildren’s lives,  but also the effects of her influence went on to her grandchild’s friend and now to her children.

Remember Moms…you don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential.  Prayer is important…and ” it’s never too late to pray”.