One of the most terrific mothers of all time was Susannah Wesley. Susannah’s father was a minister and she was born in England in 1669 as the youngest of twenty-five children! Susannah was married at 19 to Samuel Wesley, also a minister and, not to be outdone, she had nineteen children herself. Her husband was always gone for church meetings, planting, and revivals, so the responsibility of raising kids was hers. She always wanted to do big things for God but her biggest contribution was raising children to serve God. Her two sons, John and Charles Wesley, practically changed the world. John was the founder of the Methodist movement and Charles was the celebrated composer who was probably the finest hymn-writer, musician and composer of all-time in England. His songs included such classics for Easter such as "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," for Christmas such as "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," and for Sundays such as "Rejoice, the Lord is King."
With so many children, Susannah devised a way to spend time with them. She decided to spend one hour each day praying for her 19 children. In addition, she took each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matters. She also expected each child to be able to read the Book of Genesis by the time he or she was six years child.
Here are her famous 16 rules of raising children:
1. Eating between meals not allowed.
2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.
3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.
4. Subdue self- will in a child, and those working together with God to save the child’s soul.
5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.
6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.
7. Give them nothing that they
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