More than one mother in history is an unsung hero. Susanna Wesley is one of them.
Mother of 19 children, 9 of whom died in childbirth, three as adults
Twice experienced her home burned beyond habitation.
Her husband constantly mismanaged their family funds, accruing debts even to his death.
He also left her for a year without support or communication.
She homeschooled their children for a period of 20 years.
She valued education, teaching both her sons and daughters to read, write, and reason well.
In addition, she provided Biblical and basic theological teaching for them: God as Creator, the Apostle’s Creed, and the 10 Commandments.
Her children were expected to express gratitude to God for food, and never use profanity or disrespectful words.
Her children did not grow up to be perfect: there were some bad marriage choices, pregnancies out of wedlock, conflicts with people.
But the basis of faith and good routines she taught as they grew up, still bore fruit in their lives.
Her remaining children gathered at her death bed and sang a psalm of praise to God, as she had requested.
Her greatest legacy is found in the lives of her sons John and Charles.
John founded the Methodist movement which influenced the abolition of the slave trade, slavery, child labor in England, laws against cruelty to animals, and countless organizations devoted to caring for the poor and suffering.
Charles wrote 6,000 hymns, many of which are still enjoyed by believers today.