Children are a blessing from the Lord……
Blessed is he whose quiver is full…….
I’m not really sure why, but people often feel free to share their thoughts on how many kids a person should have! It has been that way for us for quite some time. I think that it started after our daughter was born. She was child number two and we had a bunch of people say “so are you going to stop now? You have the perfect little family, one boy and one girl!”
Over the years it has been more of the same….”When are you going to stop?”…”Aren’t you glad you can’t have anymore kids?” “I bet there are some days when you wish you didn’t have so many?” (for the record that has NEVER crossed my mind for a minute!) and the list goes on and on and on! I think people don’t understand just how hurtful these things are.
The perspective of this world is all messed up. Ashton Kutcher’s character in the new Cheaper by the Dozen movie defined the world’s way of thinking about children best by saying: “children are inevitable, like death and taxes”. REALLY?
And when people find out that we want to adopt the response is ALWAYS less than favorable. I continually hear “you have you hands full already”. Yes yes I do, but my heart is full too! FULL OF JOY that only children can bring. Yes raising kids is one of the most difficult tasks a person can ever undertake, but because it is so very difficult it is also one of the most rewarding things!
Hubby and I knew before we got married that we would adopt someday…God calls us to take care of orphans and we both feel like this is something that God is calling us to do! We know that we have two empty spots at the table and two empty beds upstairs just waiting for us to show God’s love to the inhabitants. To be completely honest it makes me sad thinking I could be missing out on something with them right now!
My kids are not the best at anything, they aren’t perfect. I don’t know anybody who is! They don’t have a perfect mom or dad, but two out of the four have confessed to a perfect God as their Savior. I couldn’t ask for anything more yet God still blesses. Our 7 year old son is determined that he is going to a missionary and that just brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. He has a long way to go but that is why God doesn’t send 7 year olds alone to the mission field!
I have exactly what I wanted…people focused kids. They might not be the best behaved but my kids sure love on people unconditionally. They are service minded! My kids weep when someone in our church passes! They touch some of the older people by their smiles and love. Yes I have four VERY strong-willed children and yes they are assertive and yes they are persistent and determined. All things that will help them go far in life, if trained properly! So yes it is hard and yes I fall into bed exhausted and yes I LOVE every minute of it….LOL…MOSTLY!
