Kids & Parenting

Gleaning From The Book Of Esther, My Redemption Story

by Janice S Ramkissoon 
10/04/25
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A fatherless child, touched by an angel in each season of her life. That's me! Nevertheless, I only began to recognize the depths of God’s goodness in my life after doing a deep dive into the book of Esther. It was a challenge I embarked on (a birthday treat as part of self-care) this past August.

The story is being rewritten, with God's Word, for His glory. Like Mordecai, my maternal grandfather took me under his care, initiated, helped and supported by his wife, my maternal grandmother. They raised me to be the confident young lady who became the wife, mother and author you are now engaging with in this space.

They were the biggest role models I had in my life, and their influence helped to make me into the woman I am today.

Adopted into the family

Forty years ago, I was adopted into the family of God. Looking back, I can see the people who stood in the gap, no matter how small their input. My earliest recollection was of my first Pastor, the late Rev. Dennis Millwood, who sat with me at six years old as I fed my little cousin.


He spoke to me like I was worth talking to and listening to. He then called me to the pulpit the following day (Sunday) and got me to repeat something I said in that conversation. I coined it my first testimony.

I was able to speak with confidence because I had someone I trusted, who was a leader in my life, standing with me, encouraging me and allowing me to use one of my gifts in speaking to the congregation. That's my first recollection of a time I felt seen,  heard,  and loved.

Yet, I would not have been connected to him if not for my maternal grandfather, my earth angel, who, along with Grandma, gave up their retirement years to care for me and my two younger siblings. My grandad was an officer/elder in the church, so my pastor was at our home from time to time. When at the church building, we’re often the last ones to leave on a Sunday or after midweek service. Trust developed over that period of time so I knew I was in safe hands.

Those are the two men I have been thinking of while going through the book of Esther.  As I reflect on Mordecai's connection with Esther, I find I’m looking back with gratitude, thinking of role models who, in many ways, have influenced the way I behave today. One such model is the Rev. Dr. Clinton Chisholm and his family.

Marriage Talk

The first time I became interested in learning about marriage was at 13 years old. I had recently given my life to Christ and was now attending Bible Study with the main body of the church, shortly after my baptism. Rev. Chisholm (whom I believe had become a married man and graduated from seminary in recent years) was sharing with my grandfather and other deacons and elders about his recent marriage. He mentioned how he was unsure of what to do with a particular situation he was facing. He continued to explain his success after praying, asking God to show him what to do.


I thought they were just having a chat before the study, but it may have been strategic, based on what we were about to study.

As a 13-year-old, I was very attentive to what he had to say. It was utterly captivating to me what he articulated regarding the institution of marriage, and I continue to find it equally compelling at this stage of my life. Consequently, I have evolved into a passionate scholar on the subject of family dynamics, particularly focusing on leadership in marriage and parenting. 

Reverend Chisholm was welcomed into our church family after the death of Rev. Millwood.

Interestingly, I only saw Rev. Millwood in light of his vocation, as the pastor of our church and a friend of our family. I didn’t have an insight into his home life so I didn't connect with him in any other way. He was our 'shepherd', the one we would go to if we had a problem (of which we had none, according to my innocence as a child). I was young and lacking understanding. Foolishness was bound up in my heart (Proverbs 22:15). No questions were asked; I simply accepted that he was the pastor of our church and my granddad’s friend.

However, I saw Rev. Chisholm from a different perspective. I had matured a little and was gaining understanding. He was a family man: a husband and a father who came to serve us in the capacity of a pastor. I had a different mindset. I had matured from childhood to adulthood (teenager) and was able to see our leader as a human being who had a life outside of caring for the flock.

I admired the way his wife would care for their children while he delivered the sermon to the congregation or while he spoke with parishioners after the service. I watched the children develop and saw the respect they had for their parents. I admired the way his wife lovingly cared for the children and how they, as a couple, were affectionate towards each other.

Being Present & Engaging

Reverend Chisholm was also available to engage with us as children, teenagers and young adults. I memorised the passage that says, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me…” (Matthew 19:14 and Mark 10:14) because he exemplified Christ’s love for us in those Sunday afternoon scenes from my early teen years. Sometimes he would be with a deacon/elder of the church, and they would ask us questions and engage with us, which gave me a picture of Jesus and the children in that scene referenced above.

Jesus rebuked the disciples when they tried to turn the children away. That highlights, to me, the importance of continuous learning and why God gave the gift of teaching to some believers. Those were the days of building my confidence to ask questions for the purpose of learning (with no mother or father to ask questions my pastor and my school teachers were my 'go to' for education). I transferred that to our son, and I see him as a product of that investment whenever we engage in discussions or whenever I get a glimpse of him in action, with friends or hear of interactions with brothers and sisters in the faith, as well as leaders and colleagues at work.

I also had the pleasure of seeing Rev. Chisholm and his family at home when they hosted a friend and I. I saw his wife in action, and it was a picture of beauty, one I aspired to as a future wife. I saw my pastor operating in his role as a husband and a father, in their home, the same way he was present and available to us as teenagers at church. He was the same at church as he was at home.


He read stories for his children and played games with them before entrusting them to my care, for a few hours, while his wife heads to the kitchen to prepare the evening’s meal, and he heads up to the office to prepare for what may have been an upcoming sermon.

An Enjoyable Trip

My friend and I enjoyed reading time with his children and playtime in the park. We came back from the park in time for a lovely meal prepared by the wonderful Mrs. Chisholm, who was a remarkable host. It wasn’t the smile alone that did it for me. It was the gathering around the table with the family and service with not just a smile but a pleasant demeanour. She looked genuinely happy, and the atmosphere in the home was very welcoming. She was modestly dressed, and so were their children.

I didn’t feel like a guest at their home; I felt part of the family. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left for the train station, there was no awkwardness. Just love, joy and peace--that’s what I experienced that day.


I was welcomed into the study to see my pastor’s working space, and I was welcomed into the kitchen, where I got a lesson or two before heading to the park. I experienced a little piece of heaven here on earth that day.

Did I want the day to end? No, I didn’t! But my friend had to get back to her husband and my mother was expecting me home before dark. Thankfully, it was summertime and we had hours of extra daylight to work with.

Continues in 'My Redemption Story: A Picture of Leadership'