A God-Fearing Home and The Power of a Praying Mother

A God-Fearing Home and The Power of a Praying Mother
    Hudson Taylor was born on May 21, 1832, in Barnsley, England, the firstborn child of  James, a chemist, and Amelia, a daughter of a Wesleyan minister, Benjamin Hudson, both raised in believing homes,becoming committed Christians at a young age.
    It was just thirteen months after James and Amelia’s wedding day that they were joined by their first child. Though named after his father, he was always known as Hudson, after his mother’s maiden name. Hudson was soon joined by Amelia Jr., who became his dearest friend, and then other siblings. Hudson’s parents had dedicated him to the Lord before his birth, giving him to ministry and especially to mission work in China. Hudson learned this information only after he had already taken up the work.
    James was a loving father committed to training his children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. But he was also severe in discipline and excessively frugal,  Amelia was kind, gentle, and forbearing. She had a quiet and pleasant personality and a rich sense of humor. She was well-respected in her local church. She and James consistently led their children in family worship—reading the Bible, praying, and singing hymns together. Hudson developed an early interest in spiritual matters and even an interest in missionary work. But it would not be long before he would be challenged to throw it all away.
    When Hudson was 15, he took up employment at a bank, and there he first encountered people who openly mocked the Christian faith. He soon joined them in scoffing and swearing.  He found himself drawn to money and to the pleasures it could afford. His spiritual life began to languish, and he lost interest in prayer and in reading the Bible. When weakening eyes eventually forced him to resign, he returned to his father’s shop in a state of deep spiritual crisis. James attempted to help his son but was too often harsh and impatient. Hudson, now 17, found himself despondent and short-tempered, inwardly and at times outwardly rebelling against his father’s strict authority.
    Amelia intervened  redoubling  her efforts to be kind, gentle, and patient toward him but became convinced that the best thing she could do for her son was to commit him to prayer. During a short holiday that took her away from home, she felt compelled to increase the length and earnestness of her prayers. She locked herself in her room and for hours pleaded that God would extend mercy to Hudson. And then, all of a sudden, she believed that God had answered her prayer. Her heart turned from pleading to praise, and she worshiped God that he had, indeed, saved Hudson.
    Meanwhile, Hudson had been at home. Bored and discontent, he wandered into his father’s library and spotted a tract titled “Poor Richard.” He read the story, then came to the simple words “the finished work of Christ.” In that very moment, Hudson understood that Christ had done all that was necessary for salvation and the only right response was to accept that work by faith, he fell to his knees and committed his life to the Lord. He soon learned that as he was on his knees praising God for his salvation, his mother was doing the very same thing, though many miles away.
    A few days later, he and his mother were reunited, and he immediately exclaimed, “I have some news to tell you.” Before he could say anything more she replied, “I know what it is! You have given yourself to God.” She explained that for days she had already been rejoicing in his salvation. Surely it is not an incidental detail that his sister Amelia Jr. only 13, had also committed to pray for his conversion in this time. He learned this later when he accidentally opened her diary and realized that she had made this promise just one month before God saved him.
    Taylor’s life was forever transformed and committed his life to missionary work and departed for China in 1853. His mother was there to say farewell, and his description of their parting tells of their love and of her earnest prayers.
    “My beloved, now sainted mother, had come over to Liverpool to see me off. Never shall I forget that day, nor how she went with me into the cabin that was to be my home for nearly six long months. With a mother’s loving hand she smoothed the little bed. She sat by my side and joined in the last hymn we should sing together before parting. We knelt down and she prayed—the last mother’s prayer I was to hear before leaving for China. Then notice was given that we must separate, and we had to say good-bye, never expecting to meet on earth again.
    For my sake she restrained her feelings as much as possible. We parted, and she went ashore giving me her blessing. I stood alone on deck, and she followed the ship as we moved toward the dock gates. As we passed through the gates and the separation really commenced, never shall I forget the cry of anguish wrung from that mother’s heart. It went through me like a knife. I never knew so fully, until then, what “God so loved the world” meant. And I am quite sure my precious mother learned more of the love of God for the perishing in that one hour than in all her life before.”
    Even on the mission field, Hudson continued to depend upon his mother’s prayers. “God be with you and bless you, my own dear, dear mother, and give you so to realize the preciousness of Jesus, that you may wish for nothing but to ‘know him’ … even in ‘the fellowship of his sufferings’.” From afar, Amelia gave counsel and encouragement to her missionary son. Their bond of friendship was only separated by her death in 1881.
    Hudson Taylor would spend 51 years in China and found the China Inland Mission (now known as OMF International). his story cannot be told without giving due credit to the power of a praying mother.
    Even when raised in a godly home with a loving mother, some children may be dragged away from God into the sinful desires of the world. But no matter how far your children stray, no matter the circumstances, you must not succumb to despair. You can pray like Amelia prayed. You may not receive such a clear and remarkable answer to your prayer. But as you plead for your children before a sovereign God, as you cry out in faith to him, you can trust that there will be a day when your tears of mourning will turn to tears of joy.