That surely says something to modern mothers. It says that if you really want to share the Gospel with your children you had better take your own faith seriously. Paying lip-service to Christ and the church will never be able to give the proper message. Unless you WANT to let them know that faith is NOT very important, your own life had better reflect a seriousness of purpose and commitment. By your OWN attendance at Sunday School and worship, by your OWN participation in the life and mission of the church, by the effort you put forth in the deepening of your OWN relationship with the Lord, you will determine what lessons about the Lord and the church that your children first learn.
Kids are too smart for that.
They made whatever efforts they could in personal study. After all, it is impossible for someone to teach what they do not already know - no food ever came from an empty cupboard. And then mother and grandmother passed on the results of that learning to the impressionable boy. They left him an incomparable legacy. Timothy DID listen and learn.