According to society, children are a burden. Anyone who has more than 2 or God-forbid three children is a martyr. Who would want that many children? And what is up with those crazy people who have kids by the dozen?? Unfortunately, most Christians feel the same way although they would never say it in those words.
Biblically, we know that children are a blessing and a reward from God. But we've been deceived for so long, we don't really believe it. If we did believe the Word of God in this area, why would we cut off God's blessings? We want His blessings on our finances. We want His blessings on our health. But, truth be told, we don't want too many of his blessings when it comes to children. Because we don't really believe they are blessings. No one thinks: "I want God to bless our finances up to $200,000 but no more, because that's just too much." We say exactly that when it comes to His greatest blessings - His children.
At a family gathering a few months after Maya, Isaac, and Daniel came home, Kyle put his arm around me, patted my tummy with his other hand and in a sing-songy voice said, "We have an announcement to make. . ." He just wanted the laughs, but one person remarked, upon realizing it was a joke: "Oh my goodness, Ginger would slit her wrists if they had any more!!"
It would have been hard back then to consider adding more children, but God's grace is always sufficient and we would welcome God's blessing of children with open arms, not slit wrists.
It is hard to parent seven children when I try to do it in my own power. I don't have patience. I'm not sympathetic. I'm not kind or gentle. I'm a selfish sinner. I depend on the Lord for those fruits of the Spirit. When I call on Him and rely on His grace, He gives me everything I need to care for my blessings.
17 comments:
Amen to that Ginger! Very well said and I couldn't agree with you more!
Blessings...
So true! Not many people want a blessing that comes with that much work and responsibility. And even if they do, they want to be in control of just how much work they are willing to do. I have to start every day asking God to give me what I need to parent my three blessings. If ever I forget that prayer, it's NOT a good day!!
Jamie,
I respectfully disagree, sis. I've seen people put more work, care, and responsibility into their dog! But I do agree that we want to be in control. We have been deceived into thinking self-centeredness is something to pursue. It has only made me miserable, in my experience. My kids are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me - they free me from selfish living.
People often say to me..."you must work hard" or "that's a lot of work"!!
I answer that we all work at something all day, I just work on something worthwhile!
I tell them how my days before children were wasted in busy work for other people, but now, I am blessed to be able to put my time into lasting investments...my children!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I just wanted to let you know that I absolutely LOVED your article!!! It was beautiful and you did a wonderful job writing it! It's so true about people thinking that anything more than 2 children is crazy, and that's really sad. We're pregnant with #4 and have been getting a lot of rude comments about it and I've been getting kinda down about it. Your article definitely helped to put things in perspective! Smile Thank you for writing it! Also I wanted to let you know that your children are all beautiful!
Very articulate. We have a small family, only four so far... but we get "remarks" already! I love how well you put your convictions, and what a great reminder!!! The photo is absolutely gorgeous!
Very well said, Ginger. Love the picture, too!
Great article. Those are my thoughts too! Good job and very cute picture.
Loved your article! I completely agree. It's heartbreaking to hear the truth. How backwards our thinking is.
Robin
Great article/post, Ginger! I have been reading your blog and I love it. Your family is so blessed.
-Marci
Mommy to seven magnificent boys and one tomboy princess
Ginger, I loved it as well. The picture is so sweet. I noticed that there is another Robin commenting on your blog so I will use my nick when commenting from now on:-)
When we first started adopting, we had four young bio kids. Our experience was so positive that I developed the mind set that everyone should do this!! If only everyone would take in at least one of these lost lambs we wouldn't have the problems in society we see. I know how naieve (or just plain wrong) I was now. Not everyone can do this. Not because they actually CAN'T, but because they just plain don't want to and refuse to. That said, I wish that people would realize that what is best for them isn't what's necessarily what's best for the rest of us. I resent the intrusive comments and backhanded compliments (such as, "Wow, you are an amazing Mom to be able to handle this many children, then again, you must not have a life") and just want people to accept us "as is". I'm not asking anyone to buy us groceries or babysit for free or send my kids to college. We take care of our own children 100% in every way!
Part of what makes people think kids are SOOO overwhelming (and more than 2 just plain chaos) is that they don't know how to care for them. Mom is too busy "making a name for herself" by working all day when the most worthwhile thing she could do is invest in her kids. I also agree that though kids take up time, they are typically NOT the ton of work people think they are (or train them to be!). The proper biblical perspective on submission, motherhood and children makes a world of difference in managing 1 to 10 kids. Children ARE a treasure from the Lord, people just don't know it when they are still thinking so highly of themselves.
-Melodie
I could not agree more. It breaks my heart at how most people think.
Angela
Thanks for writing this, Ginger. It's so nice to hear someone "talk" about how much they love their kids...not how annoying they are.
Amen Sista Ginger! Preach it!
All kidding aside, it is really sad the way society in general views children these days! And I can't believe the Christians that do not see children as a real blessing and would rather send mom to work than raise their children. It is so sad.
Jeff
Father to 12 beautiful children
I so needed to read this tonight! Thank you! My family is my greatest treasure and I want to serve and love them with pure abandon. Unfortunately, often I get bogged down in doing it all in my strength which causes my doubts and insecurities to surface. God's strength, not mine! Thanks again for the timely reminder.
Lisa
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