Call Us "Monica"

Once a month I write a letter to the wonderful Prayer for Prodigals community I am part of.  Often those letters, though specific to those who love a prodigal, apply to any or all of us in the challenging circumstances of life. 

Monica and Augustine

Dear Lover of Prodigals,

You know St. Augustine—one of the great minds and writers of the young church.  His Confessions and other writings are still read today as major Christian classics.

But do you know Monica?

Monica was Augustine’s mother.  She was from North Africa—modern Algeria—and a devoted follower of Christ.  Her husband was a pagan who came to Christ at the end of his life, through her gentle and exemplary life—by his own words.

Augustine did everything with passion—including sinning.  As he went to study in Carthage, he quickly pursued a licentious life.

Monica never quit praying—and crying—for her son.

She implored a local bishop to intervene in Augustine’s life and talk sense into him.  He responded, “Be patient.  God’s time will come.”  But she was relentless, and finally the bishop told her “Go now, I beg you; it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish."

Monica followed Augustine to Rome and then to Milan, where both became close to Bishop Ambrose.  The Bishop talked long with Augustine, who began to read Scripture.  At the age of 29, he surrendered to Christ—knowing his mother’s years of prayers had been answered.

We understand, don’t we.  We could be called Monica.

Some of us have prayed and wept for many years.  Others of us have just begun.  But all of us must remember: “Be patient.  God’s time will come.”

I pray that, for each of us, God will remember our tears for our loved ones, and that one day each one will lay down their arms and surrender to our King.

May God be near you as you cry out to Him,

Judy

If you would be interested in requesting prayer for a prodigal loved one, or being a part of our wonderful praying community, respond in comments or message me on FB.