SUSANNAH WESLEY – “WHAT A WOMAN! WHAT A MOTHER!!!”

Today, 23 July, is the day Susannah Wesley died, in the year 1742…precisely 282 years ago. Susannah Wesley is more famously known as the mother of John Wesley and Charles Wesley. Not many know, that she is an amazing woman, and an equally amazing wife and mother. When we study her life, we can’t but exclaim, WHAT A WOMAN! and WHAT A MOTHER!!!

Susannah Wesley is born in 1669, as the twenty-fifth child, in a pastor’s family. She got married at the age of nineteen, to Samuel Wesley, a pastor himself, in the Church of England. They together had nineteen children of their own. We can imagine how hectic Susannah’s life should have been. Hectic would be an understatement, to say the least.

Susannah was meticulous, and a great manager of time and resources, who did exceptionally well, juggling a whole lot of things, apart from raising her children in the fear and the discipline of the LORD.

A CARING MOTHER!
Susanna and Samuel Wesley had nineteen children. Sadly, nine of their children died as infants; four of those were twins. Tragically, one of the child was accidentally smothered by their maid. One was crippled; another couldn’t talk until he was nearly six years old. Susanna herself was desperately sick most of her life. There was no money for food, or to buy most things. Debt had plagued them always.

LEARNED LADY!
Nothing seemed to deter or discourage Susannah Wesley. All the children were taught by her, at home. It was carefully planned out. She taught the children, all their lessons, for six hours a day. She did not spare the rod, when needed.

HARDWORKING LADY!
Susannah, also worked in their gardens, milked the cow, and managed the entire house herself. She gave herself tirelessly to her family, and their needs, gladly and ungrudgingly.

A “STRONG” WIFE!
Susannah was exceptionally strong in her heart and mind. She carried the load of the family very well, especially when her family fell into debt, and Samuel Wesley, her husband was once jailed for not paying the debt.

PRAYERFUL LADY!
All the strength that Susannah needed for her tough and tiring responsibilities came from the LORD Himself. Despite her hectic schedule, she made it a point to spend two hours a day, with her LORD, in prayer!

She struggled to find a private place to spend time with her LORD. It was impossible in a small house, with so many children. So she asked her children, not to disturb her, when they see her with her apron over her head; this meant, she was in prayer, and must not be disturbed. 

WISE LADY WITH SOUND AND THEOLOGY!
Susannah Wesley was wise and a very sound person, in her understanding of God, life and sin. Once, in a conversation with John Wesley, she advised him thus…
– “How would you judge the lawfulness or unlawfulness of “pleasure?” Use this rule: “Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sight of God, takes from you your thirst for spiritual things or increases the authority of your body over your mind, then that thing to you is evil. By this test you may detect evil no matter how subtly or how plausibly temptation may be presented to you.”

WHAT A WOMAN! WHAT A MOTHER!!! is Susanna Wesley. May the LORD raise up many more such women, for His glory, and for the blessing of His kingdom.