Letters From Grandpa #541

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 541

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will be a tribute to Susanna Wesley. She is a famous mother from a previous generation. Not all women, of course, will have the privilege of becoming biological mothers. Neither did Mother Theresa, yet she became one of the most famous mothers of all time. It seems that God has blessed all women with special abilities that men do not have. Based on this I pray that this letter honoring Susanna Wesley will have a positive impact on everyone.

Susanna Wesley was born in England January 20, 1669. She died July 23, 1742 at the age of 73. Her parents were Samuel and Mary Annesley. Susanna was the youngest of 25 children. She married Samuel Wesley November 11, 1688 and they had 19 children. Though she never preached a sermon, published a book, or founded a church, she is known as the Mother of Methodism. Two of her sons, John Wesley and Charles Wesley were famous Methodist preachers. The information about Susanna in this letter is taken from Wikipedia.

Sadly, Susanna’s life was filled with hardship and sorrow. Nine of her children died in infancy and only eight of her children were alive when she died. In many ways her husband was not a good man. One day, for example, she had an argument with him and he left her for a year to take care of the children by herself. Here is a letter she wrote to her absent husband: “I am a woman, but I am also the mistress of a large family. And though the superior charge of the souls contained in it lies upon you, yet in your long absence I cannot but look upon every soul you leave under my charge as a talent committed to me under a trust. I am not a man nor a minister, yet as a mother and a mistress I felt I ought to do more than I had yet done. I resolved to begin with my own children; in which I observe the following method: I take such a proportion of time as I can spare every night to discourse with each child apart. On Monday I talk with Molly, on Tuesday with Hetty, Wednesday with Nancy, Thursday with Jacky, Friday with Patty, Saturday with Charles.”

Her husband was in jail two different times for financial problems and never adequately cared for the family. Their financial problems were compounded by the fact that their home burned to the ground on two different occasions. Somehow, Susanna survived and succeeded as a mother in spite of the obstacles she faced.

Susanna home schooled her children and their formal education began the first day after their 5th

birthday. They attended classes 6 hours every day. On their first day of school they were expected to learn the entire alphabet. All but two of her children achieve this goal. She taught all her children the Bible, Latin, Greek and the classical studies that were traditional in England at the time.

When their home burned the second time her children were temporarily forced to live in different homes until the house was rebuilt. Susanna was mortified when she found out that away from her influence her children had learned improper words and were more interested in playing rather than studying.

When the Sunday morning sermons lacked spiritual depth, Susanna starting her own services for her children in their home on Sunday afternoons. When the neighbors found out about this service as many as 200 showed up to learn from her wisdom. Susanna had private devotions every day and wrote several essays on how she educated her children. In addition to writing letters, Susanna also wrote meditations and scriptural commentaries for her own use. Further she wrote extended

commentaries on the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. Sadly, many of her writings were lost in the fires.

Her son John was elected a fellow at Lincoln College in 1726 and ordained an Anglican priest two years later. At Oxford he became leader of the “Holy Club” helping others to become more devout in their service of Christ. His evangelist tours caused him to travel widely in Great Britain and Ireland. Usually he preached outside. He dared to depart from church tradition and organized small groups of disciples that were led by itinerant unordained evangelists. These “unapproved” preachers came to be known as “lay preachers.” In 1743 John drew up a set of general rules which later were incorporated into the Methodist Book of Discipline. John Wesley preached two or three times a day for many years, travelled 250,000 miles (usually on horseback), preached over 40,000 sermons, and gave away over 30,000 pounds. His generosity caused him to die in poverty.

John had a younger brother named Charles. Charles was the 18th child born to Susanna. He too became an Anglican Priest. Among his many accomplishments for Christ he is especially remembered for writing between 6,500 and 10,000 hymns.

While her other children never became famous on earth, each one was loved by their mother and also by God! Every time any person repents there is rejoicing in heaven in the presence of the angels (Luke 15:10). May the love and dedication of Susanna Wesley be an inspiration to everyone! “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce