John Knox and His Mother-in-Law

This episode highlights a lesser-known side of John Knox, the great Scottish Reformer, showing that the strength that made him fearless even as a galley slave was matched by deep gratitude and affection. Knox not only wrote faithfully to his wife but also to his mother-in-law, whom he addressed as “dear mother,” loving her because she had given him his wife. Like the apostle Paul, he thanked God continually for those close to him, and this genuine appreciation inspired unusual loyalty from others. His life demonstrates that true spiritual strength is inseparable from heartfelt thankfulness, a quality Knox both practiced and expected, and one that still speaks powerfully to us today.