The story is told of Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. This fourth-century woman had a son who was so perverse that almost anyone else's child would have been considered to be no problem at all in comparison. But through Augustine's difficult years of rebellion, Monica never stopped praying for her son and she lived for the time when he might give his life over to God.
One day, Augustine announced to his mother that he was leaving his home in the city of Hippo to live in Rome. He wanted to go to the big city where the action was, and he let it be known that Hippo was no place for a lover of nightlife, like himself. When she heard the news, Monica's heart broke. She was sure that by going away to Rome her son would be lost to her and to God forever. She begged Augustine not to do this and, in an act of desperation, pleaded with him to go and sit with her in the church while she prayed about it. He yielded to his mother's request that he go to church with her, but while Monica was on her knees in prayer, Augustine sneaked off to the harbor and boarded a ship sailing for Rome. When Monica discovered what had happened, she was deeply hurt, but she never despaired; she just kept on hoping and praying.
While in Rome, Augustine quite miraculously came to Christ through the witness of St. Ambrose. Under Ambrose, he was nurtured into Christian discipleship, and when it was learned that the city of Hippo needed a new bishop to lead their church, Ambrose recommended the once wayward son of that town for the office.
Can you imagine the surprise and joyful amazement of Monica the day she went down to the dock with others from her church to meet their new pastor? None other than her own Augustine walked down the gangplank! The mother who never gave up on her son had been rewarded. Monica's story is a reminder to mothers everywhere that where there's life, there's hope. It may be that, even when the life of your loved one is ended, there is still hope.
-- Tony Campolo in “Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God”
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