One night 1,600 years ago in Carthage, a young man was trying to calm his weeping mother. She had followed him from Tagaste and was determined to stay near him, praying for him, until he became a Christian.

For many years, he had paid no attention to her. He had decided that the writings in God’s Word were too simple and ridiculous to be studied. He had read other books instead, listened to important men, and prided himself on being very clever (which he was).

His mother knew he was planning to go to Rome soon, and she was trying to make plans to go there as well. But the young man said, “Listen, Mother. I can’t go until my friend is ready to leave, and he’s waiting for a fair wind. You just stay in this inn and I’ll be sure to let you know.” Reassuring her in this way, he slipped away and boarded a ship without her that very night!

His name was Augustine.

About a year later, his mother, Monica, caught up with him in Milan. She had traveled more than 500 miles across sea and land. Augustine was living sinfully with his girlfriend and some other men, and teaching in a school there.

His mother found a change in him, though. He had been hearing the preaching of a great man named Ambrose, who knew the Bible very well. For the first time, Christian ideas made some sense to Augustine. Monica kept on praying for three more years, while Augustine struggled with many difficult questions. Finally, in the year 387, Augustine became a believer and was baptized by Ambrose.

Now, instead of tricking his mother and running away from her, he could talk with her about the Lord Jesus, whom they both loved so much. His proud heart had been broken by God, so his cleverness could be used in serving Him.

Augustine wrote many books which tell how finding the truth helped him answer his hard questions.