Mike and I never really talked about limiting the number of children we have. After Max was born, we really didn't want to have any for a while. I was young and dumb and we were both growing in our faith. I did know that I didn't want to use birth control. I had known several people who conceived while on birth control and I knew others who, after getting off the pill, conceived only to lose their baby due to poor lining of the uterus (a side effect of the birth control pill). So, we used natural family planning instead. And it was five years before we had Ainsley.
After Ainsley was born I was starting to NOT want to be in charge of when or how many children we had. I dreaded my cycles because they forced me to make a decision. But we continued with NFP until we conceived Lillian. During my pregnancy, I did a lot of research on allowing God to decide our family size. That is not easy to think about. Here are the verses I found:
After Ainsley was born I was starting to NOT want to be in charge of when or how many children we had. I dreaded my cycles because they forced me to make a decision. But we continued with NFP until we conceived Lillian. During my pregnancy, I did a lot of research on allowing God to decide our family size. That is not easy to think about. Here are the verses I found:
- "he listened to her and opened her womb" Genesis 30:22
- "When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren." Genesis 29:31
- "But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb." 1Samuel 1:5
- "for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah." Genesis 20:18
And when I finally got up the nerve to ask Mike what he thought about it, he said, "It's not up to us. God needs to be in charge of that."
"Even if we have ten kids?" I asked.
"Even if we have ten kids?" I asked.
And he said, "If God wants to give us ten kids, he'll provide us with what we need for ten kids."
I was blown away. I had to pray about it daily. I wanted God to be in charge of our family size, but was I ready for 6, 8, 10 or more kids?
Then I was drawn to this verse:
- Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127: 3-5
Children are a reward from the Lord!!! Isn't that awesome? I know now that every time God opens my womb and places another baby in our lives, we have done something to deserve a reward. I pray that God will see us as deserving of many more rewards.
4 comments:
Awwww! That last paragraph made me cry! So sweet.
I couldn't agree more. It is heartbreaking to hear how people talk about their blessings and rewards; like they couldn't be happier if they are never blessed again. We are so deceived!
I could have never imagined the joy and fulfillment my seven bring to me. I would LOVE to be blessed again.
Our children are the one thing we can take with us into eternity.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I've learned SO much from my children! I wish I had mentors like you and Ginger when I was a young wife. Talk about clueless! Don and I pray that God will give us energy to fully enjoy all our blessings. ;) We joyfully welcome each one!
Very splendidly put:). May God bless you with grace upon grace and child upon child--in His timing:)
Praise God! How encouraging to read this! God has proven to be so faithful through hard pregnancies, children close in age, finances etc in ways I couldn't start to count. We would never have known the depth of His goodness if we did not step out in faith with Him planning our family. Be encouraged and may the Lord bless you for sharing this and challenging other Christian women with your own testimony and scripture.
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