Susanna Wesley – Mother to John and Charles Wesley

Susanna Wesley lived from 1669-1742.  She had 19 children within 21 years although only 10 of them lived beyond childhood years.

Kathy McReynolds has written a book called  “Susanna Wesley”.   It's part of the Women of Faith series and I found it to be well written and an enjoyable read.

It is said that Susanna prayed for two hours a day!  Here is an excerpt from a letter she wrote to her oldest son Samuel.

I exhort you, as I am your faithful friend; and I command you, as I am your parent, to use your utmost diligence to make your calling and election sure; to be faithful to your God; and after I have said that, I need not bid you be industrious in your calling….I have a great and just desire that all your sisters and your brothers should be saved as well as you….

I weep and pray in my retirements from the world, when no mortal knows the agonies of my soul upon your account, no eye sees my tears, which are only beheld by that Father of spirits, of whom I so urgently beg grace for you, that I hope I may at last be heard!  Is it possible that you should be ****ed?  Oh, that it were impossible!  Indeed, I think I could almost wish myself accursed, so I were sure of your salvation.

With regard to the particular task of teaching her children Susanna made this statement:

Though the education of so many children must create abundance of trouble, and will perpetually keep the mind employed as well as the body; yet I consider it no small honor to be entrusted with the care of so many souls.  And if that trust be but managed with prudence and integrity, the harvest will abundantly recompense the toil of the seed-time; and it will be certainly no little inheritance to the future glory to stand forth at the last day and say, 'Lord, here are the children which Thou hast given me, of whom I have lost none by my ill example, nor by neglecting to instill into their minds, in their early years, the principles of Thy true religion and virtue!'

Many of her thoughts on religion she wrote down and would give to her children.  They were so long that they were actually almost like books.  Because of these writings we are really able to gain a better understanding of how she thought.

I admire her for her passion in seeing her children serving the Lord.  I pray for my children's souls daily but am I as earnest as I should be?  After reading about Susanna and the travail of soul she had for her children I'm afraid I fall terribly short.

We might not see everything the way Susanna did but there's no denying she had two remarkable and Godly sons, John and Charles Wesley. 

She lived her life and well, her legacy lives on.  What will ours be?