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  The
Labors of a Single Mom
D. L. Moody's
Home Life
by Denny Kenaston
“And the
servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt
to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth....” II Timothy 2:24-25
The
words of this text beautifully describe the ministry of
D. L. Moody. Moody
was an evangelist gifted by God to win souls for the kingdom.
Although the title “the servant of the Lord” is used quite loosely
in these days, we can say that Moody served his Lord, the living God
of heaven. His meek and gentle disposition allowed him to persuade
tens of thousands of souls who “opposed themselves.” D. L. Moody,
chosen by God to ride the waves of the Revival of 1859-60, was a
vessel prepared for the Master’s use. They say he won a million
souls through his evangelistic pleadings in meetings all around the
world. He established three training institutions for ministers and
other Christian workers. A church stands to this day with his name
on it in Chicago. Thousands of books bear the name Moody Press,
another reminder to us of his influence. The name Moody is a
household name among most Christian’s in the English-speaking world.
Why? The answer is filled with challenge and insight for all of us
who desire to be servants of the King.
R.
A. Torrey answered this question at a memorial service
in 1923, twenty-three
years after Moody’s death. The title of his sermon was “Why God used
D. L. Moody.” He pinpointed seven remarkable reasons as the body
of his sermon. Few men knew Moody as intimately as Torrey did. This
is
what he said.
Why God Used D. L. Moody
- He
was a fully surrendered man. It was Moody who heard those
now famous
words spoken by another preacher, “The world has yet to see what
God can do with one man who is totally surrendered to God.” It
was Moody who said, “By God’s grace, I will be that man.”
- He
was a deep and meaningful man of prayer. God gave ear
to this man’s prayers
in remarkable ways. In Scotland Moody prayed a prayer in utter
brokenness that God would use him to bring revival to
Scotland.
God answered his prayer on the spot. God swept into the meeting,
and all fell on their faces in repentance.
- He was a deep
and practical student of the Word of God. This humble, uneducated
man spent hours in the word everyday, and faith stirred in his
believing heart continually.
- He
was a humble man. God prepared the way for this humility
by ordering the
circumstances of his upbringing down lowly paths.
- He
had a consuming passion for the salvation of the lost.
Moody preached to
souls wherever he went. His life as an evangelist was more than
preaching to crowds. One by one he sought them on trains,
in boats
and walking down the street.
- He was
entirely free from the love of money. Most people do not realize
how much money goes through the hands of a man who preaches to
thousands of people. This money did not affect D. L. Moody. He
gave it away, and used it to further the kingdom, as I mentioned
above.
- He had a
definite enduement of power from on high. There was a time and a
place when D. L. Moody was filled with the Holy Ghost. This is the
secret of his strength. This is the reason for all the other
points that I have listed.
These powerful
reasons are helpful to us all as we consider our own lives and
ministries.
God
began to prepare him long before he had a public ministry.
God works in so
many different ways to prepare His servants for the work He calls
them to do. His ways are past finding out, and who can
understand
them all? God’s mysterious plan for this servant had some very hard
circumstances in it. These circumstances only make sense as you look
back over the years and realize that God was preparing a servant.
Puritan
Heritage
Seven
Moody generations preceded the birth of Dwight Lyman “D.L.” Moody. John
Moody landed in the area we call Connecticut in 1633. Motivated by
the typical desires of the Puritans in those days, he set out to
establish a home and to serve his God in freedom. I am sure there
were some ups and downs in the generations that followed John
Moody’s beginnings; however, we still see godliness in the Moody
family two hundred years later. This is hard for us modern Americans
to imagine, but it is because we have a low vision.
The
generations on his mother’s side of the family read very much the same way.
Betsy Holton’s family moved to America in 1630 and settled in the
Northfield Massachusetts area. There they
lived for two hundred years, serving God in the traditions of the
Puritans. The family farm did not change hands for two hundred years
according to the biography that I am reading. These two families
were pioneers with all the character that develops through a hard
working farm life. In addition, they were Puritans with all the
convictions and visions of the early settlers of the new land. Mr.
Moody looked back on these ancestors with gratitude as he saw traits
in his own life that flowed from them.
Betsy Holton and
Edwin Moody were married in 1828 in the living room of the old
Holton family homestead. They enjoyed a happy, loving marriage, and
God gave nine children to their union. Edwin Moody provided for the
family in the same way that all the men in the Moody family did for
generations: They were masons. They built stone houses, brick houses
and fireplaces all over the valley where they lived. This happy life
continued for about thirteen years, until providence changed the
Moody home and destiny forever.
The School of Poverty
When
Dwight was four years old, his father died very suddenly.
The family had plenty
up until this time, but everything changed overnight. This
providential change in events left Mrs. Moody a poor widow with
seven children and twins on the way. The family debt was large with
no provision for unexpected death. Only the house survived
the
creditors. At first glance this looks like a tragedy hard to
understand, but providence is often that way. I can only imagine
the hard-working business minded man that Dwight might
have been. He had
all the abilities to become a prominent man in his community with
plenty of material things to enjoy. God had other plans
for him, his
family and his struggling mother. One million souls were at stake,
and no hardship was too great for the sake of them. Mrs.
Moody lived
to see providence unveiled before her eyes as thousands flocked to
hear her son preach the life-changing gospel of Christ.
I am
continually amazed at how many of God’s servants are trained in
poverty. God even sent His only begotten Son into the setting of
poverty for training and preparation. We can learn from some wisdom
here. The blessings wrought by poverty were many in Moody’s life.
I want to name a few of the more evident ones for our learning.
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From
day one they were dependent upon God for everything.
When the creditors
took even the firewood away, the Moody’s only had one option: pray
and trust God who knows the needs of the fatherless and widow. The
children stayed in bed to keep warm until it was time to leave for
school, and Mama prayed. Uncle Cyrus Holton arrived with a load of
wood to warm the house and the hearts of the whole family. We only
need to use our imagination to see how many times God provided for
them in ways like this. The oldest son was only twelve when Father
passed away. Most of us Americans know very little about trusting
God for our daily needs, and our children will pay for this—you
can be sure.
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They
did without most of the time during the early years
after Father died.
They had to say “no” to their flesh dozens of times in a week,
and this was very good training for a fruitful Christian life.
Clothes
were worn and mended repeatedly. Shoes were a luxury, and the
simple things in life delighted the children who vbouls over to
the Master. Somehow we must find some ways to teach our children
to do without, even if we have to create them.
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The
food was simple and very basic. Of necessity they ate
the same thing many
times in a month. This would go down hard with our spicy American
taste buds, which demand dozens of different kinds
of food to be
satisfied. When Dwight came to his mother and complained about
the food he received while boarding at a neighbor’s house, she sent
him back to keep his agreement. The complaint was worthy—nineteen
consecutive meals of cornmeal and milk. Maybe we should simplify
the palates of our children and teach them to be content with
plain foods.
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He had to bear
the yoke of manhood early in life. The boys had to go to work much
earlier than most of their peers. The needs demanded that they
leave home at age ten and work for local farmers all week. They
returned home for the weekend and for church. I know that most of
us would look with pity upon a boy burdened with such
responsibilities at such a young age, but look what it produced.
We are influenced by our soft society more than we realize. As I
see it, we do our children a great favor if we order their lives
with self-denying responsibilities.
Are
you a wealthy family? Do you have a storehouse that is
full with most
anything at your fingertips? Most Americans are rich, but we don’t
know we are. This is a very dangerous position to be in because of
the many snares involved in riches. If you are rich, I encourage
you
to live way below your available income and give the rest away. Your
children will bless you for such a decision when they get older.
It
is possible to be a millionaire and have no one know it.
A Godly Determined Mother
Dear
Betsy Moody is one precious example of perseverance to
every mother reading this
article. She is an example to every single mom who longs to raise
children for God without a father. “Trust in God” was her simple
creed. This is also the Bible’s simple, underlying message. She
could not give her children a theological education like some we
have studied, but she had the reality of that theology. This is far
more important. I do not know what kind of religious life the Moody
home had before her husband’s death. The historical records are
strangely silent about those first thirteen years. It is very
possible that the tragedy of her loss and the desolation of her
situation brought her to this blessed reality. She lived to see the
full scope of her son’s ministry as she died only three years before
he did at ninety-one. Imagine how she felt as she reflected in her
old rocking chair, looking back on the hard times. She remembered
the times when she was almost ready to quit and God sustained her to
keep going. Now it all makes so much sense, but then it was often
dark and cloudy. She followed the patterns and convictions of her
Puritan ancestors when it came to raising the children. Let’s look
at some of the practical methods that she used to mold a “servant
of the Lord.”
Family Devotions
Mrs. Moody
followed the example of her Puritan ancestors and gathered the
family together each morning to read and to pray. The Moody home had
only three books, but they were the most important ones to have.
They were a large family Bible, a catechism and a devotional book of
inspiration and prayers. With these the children received
instruction in holy things. On Sunday evenings it was a family
tradition to gather in front of the fireplace as mother read books
from the church library. They made it, though things were far from
ideal, and Dwight was weak on Bible knowledge when he left home. God
was training a humble, lowly minded servant who stood in amazement
when the crowds came out to hear him. He was training a servant who
would not touch the glory.
Solid Church Life
Shortly
after Mr. Moody passed away, Betsy enrolled the children
in the Sunday
school of the local church. This proved to be a great blessing to
the family in more ways than can be named. The widow and
the
fatherless are to be under the care of the church, and Pastor
Everett was quick to bring the family under his care. For a
single-mom family, this is necessary. Godly men as role models
provide needed examples when there is no father. Missing church was
not an option for young Dwight even though his youthful
heart would
have longed for play after much work through the week. The family
brought lunch along and stayed all day, attending two preaching
services and the Sunday school. Moody looked back on the
influences
that he received during those “Sabbath day” assemblies with fond
memories. It was here in the local Sunday school that Moody got
his
first taste of gathering others for Bible teaching. He often brought
other children along for the classes. I am sure that Pastor Everett
had no idea whom he was training when he encouraged young Dwight
to
go find some others to bring with him. Moody was not actually
converted until after he left home, but it is evident that this
pastor had much to do with the transformation of D. L. Moody.
Strict Discipline
Mrs.
Moody believed in the old fashioned way of training children.
A kind,
loving heart to guide, and the rod to use when guidance did not
bring the proper response were her methods. I was blessed to find
that she was slow and careful in her discipline, taking
the time to
instruct while she spanked. Moody recalled the time he told her it
didn’t hurt and commented, “That was the last time that it didn’t
hurt.” Betsy kept the children away from evil influences, and
the children did not go play away from home. She always invited the
neighbor children to the Moody house for fun and frolic, to keep
them from the evil.
Although Moody
always reflected affectionately upon the discipline his mother gave
him, he never spanked his own children. I think we can glean
something here for our own homes. Moody had two very different types
of schoolteachers that made an impression on him. The one was stern
and demanding, giving many spankings; the other was kind and loving
and gave none. Moody must have evaluated the two and decided love
and grace works better than law and judgment. This choice affected
the next generation of Moody children. How sad. Balance is the
lesson we can learn for our homes. The Bible way is a balance of
both. Our hearts should overflow with love while we guide our
children into obedience and at times spank them. If we are out of
balance, our children may react to that imbalance and go too far the
other way.
Practical Righteousness
This
is the realm where Mrs. Moody’s simple faith excelled.
Down-to-earth, everyday, righteous living was her greatest
strength. This is the
area we lack most in today. We stand in great need of the common
wisdom of right living. We American Christian’s are full
and running over with theology, and running empty with
practical living. Lord,
help us learn from this poor widow woman. What did she teach them
during the twenty years that each one lived under her roof?
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She
taught them by example and precept to give when you
do not have enough
for yourself. This happened many times at the Moody home. When
a tramp came by or another need came to her ear in
the community,
she gave to the needy. Imagine the impact that this had on the
children. They knew there was very little bread in
the house. Then
God, who is the Father of the fatherless, topped off the lesson
by providing bread enough for all to eat. Let us trust
the Lord and
give before the eyes of our little ones. They are taking notes
as the days of home life pass by.
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She taught
them to seek first the kingdom of
God in the midst of much want.
These verses are easy to believe in a land of plenty, but what
about the destitute? The children learned first hand that God was
their Father and that He cared for His own.
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She
taught them by precept and example that there would
be no complaining in
the Moody household. Consider the depth of this lesson and the
impact it had on the children. They lived in poverty.
There were
many things to complain about. The wolf was continually at the
door, and yet no complaining was allowed in the house.
She knew
that complaining leads to bitterness, and bitterness leads to more
poverty with evil deeds standing beside it. “In everything give
thanks,” was the rule of the house.
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She
taught them the dangers of judging their neighbor.
This task had some
real challenges for them because they often received wrong at the
hand of uncaring neighbors. The widow and the fatherless
are the
responsibility of the Christian community, but they are often the
most neglected and despised. This happened many times
during the
first years of desolation. Mother guided the children through
these learning experiences with righteous zeal. The children heard
the words, “We will not judge our neighbor” many times
when neglect was very evident.
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She
taught them to be independent, to make it on their
own. There was no
welfare spirit in the home. The neighbors did not owe them
anything because God was in control. You may react at first to
the word independence. In the midst of poverty, it
is one of the
highest qualities of character. She taught the family to rise up
in faith with works and meet the needs with determination.
This
was Moody’s strongest point of character all his days in the
ministry. A wise God and a wise mother worked together to instill
this in him.
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She
taught them the sanctity of a promise. “Let your yea be yea, and your nay
be nay.” This instilled a carefulness of words in all the
children. When Dwight found himself in the midst of hundreds of
requests, he was slow to say “yes” because of mother’s training
about promises. Many times she made the boys go back and keep the
promise given in a moment of weakness. We could use a good dose
of
this kind of carefulness and commitment in our day.
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She
taught them about the day of rest. They called it the
Sabbath in those
days and practiced it very much as the Jews do. The day of rest
began on Saturday evening and ended on Sunday evening.
Everything
changed on the Lord’s Day. Life slowed way down, and the hearts
of the children turned toward spiritual things all day. This is
very
different from our modern day Sunday when everyone is playing,
buying, selling and catching up on the work around the house.
Have
we lost something? I think we have.
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She
provided a warm, affectionate home life for them. Fifty
years later Moody was
still reflecting with joy upon the home fires that burned in
Mother’s home. It drew him like a magnet repeatedly. Though they
lived in poverty, she filled their humble dwelling with the thing
that means the most but costs the least—love. This tender mother
gave herself in love to her children. They knew this, and it drew
their respect and even adoration.
Conclusion
Don’t you just
love this dear saint? I do. My heart’s respect rises up to bless her
as I bring this article to a close. She is an example to every
single mother who longs for godliness in her children. She passed on
to her reward at the ripe old age of ninety-one. The words of her
grandson seem fitting here at the end. He described her funeral
service with words that crown her legacy. He said, “Her children and
her children’s children and an entire community rose up to call her
blessed.” As for me, I am one more voice that joyfully rises up to
call her a blessed woman and a dear mother in Israel.
This
study came from the book
The Life of D. L. Moody
by his son William R. Moody
Sword of the Lord
Publishers
PO Box 1099
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(800) 247-9673
www.swordofthelord.com
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