All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother (Abraham Lincoln).

Abraham Lincoln lost his mother at age nine. One year later, his father Thomas Lincoln, remarried Sarah Bush Johnston. It was a marriage of convenience–both Sarah and Thomas needed a mate. Thomas needed help in raising his young family, Sarah had debt and Thomas paid her debts and with her three children, they raised a family together.

I learned a lot about Sarah, Lincoln’s stepmother in a little known book, Mothers of Famous Men, published by Lamplighter Press. When she entered the rough cabin that was to be her new home, she declared that all the children would be treated equally. Her new home was a challenge. Dirt floors, little furniture. Abraham and his cousin slept in the attic on corn husks for their bed. What was important about Sarah and Abraham’s relationship was her keen observance of Abraham’s  intelligence and yearning for learning. She encouraged him to read. It is told he brought a book with him when he worked in the field and would read when the horses rested during the day. She encouraged him to read by the fireside at night–much to his father’s chagrin–Thomas Lincoln thought it was a waste of time. Although she was most likely illiterate, she encouraged Abraham to read and provided a few books from her own household: the Bible, Aesops Fables, The Pilgrim’s Progress, and Lessons in Elocution, and later Robinson Crusoe and possibly The Arabian Nights.

It is said that Abraham and Sarah never exchanged a cross word and after her husband Thomas died, Abraham provided for her needs until he died. Mr. Lincoln called Sarah “Mother” throughout his life and she mourned him publicly after his assassination.

Why do I write about a stepmother who lived more than one-hundred fifty years ago? It might be to encourage those of you who are step mothers to either young children or adult children who you did not give birth to, but are given the task and honor of being a step mother to another person.We often have examples of step parents who are wicked and cruel to their step children, but I like it that Sarah Lincoln declared when introduced to her new children that all would be equally treated with no partiality. What a gift she gave so many people by the treatment of her step son, Abe.

This morning I read about our adoption into the family of God when we place our trust in Jesus Christ. We are adopted and treated as family! I love it that we are God’s children:

Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

Abba is the intimate term that means “daddy” which is ours to have when we believe and place our trust in Jesus.

If you are a stepmother of young children, you might consider how Mrs. Lincoln treated her step children–with love and compassion and equality.

I find myself so grateful now that I am an orphan, for both of my parents are gone, that I have a Heavenly Father–a Daddy–who loves me!  I am not alone, but a child of God. I can’t ask for anything more.

If you are on my website, go to the tab “podcasts” and listen to the podcast  interview “Getting Remarried,” with my husband, Jim–especially if you are considering remarriage. It will help you gain more understanding about a blended family.

Enjoy the last day of July!

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Here’s the Lord’s Prayer in music. Enjoy.