Naomi is four years old today. How time flies! It seems like yesterday that Todd and I were bringing her home from the hospital. She is such a joy and a blessing to our family, as all our children are. I am so thankful for each and every one of them.
However, by the stares and comments I get from people when we are out in public with our five youngest children, most people in our society apparently frown on large families. One of the most common remarks I get is, "Are all those yours?", which begs the answer, "No, I stole them from the park down the street." But instead of saying that, I opt for shock and awe, and tell them (with a huge smile on my face), "Oh, no! We have 2 older children and 3 grandchildren!" That response usually causes a jaw-dropping, deer-in-the-headlights reaction. Most people don't expect that type of reply. Maybe they expect me to complain about my children. Maybe they don't understand that I consider motherhood the highest calling and that
I love being around my children. Maybe they don't understand what a blessing children are.
Another remark I hear alot is, "Wow, you have your hands full!" And it 's usually not said in a very nice tone of voice. My answer to that is, "Yes, I do have my hands full - of blessings!" Sometimes, if time allows, I continue with, "My husband and I believe that children are a blessing, and not a burden." I realize that our perspective of children is the very opposite of what is the cultural "norm" in our country. In our culture, children seem to be considered a burden. Every time I go to the grocery or pharmacy or wherever, I hear parents yelling at the children, complaining about them, and I even heard one mother telling her little boy,"If you don't behave, I'm going to tell the policeman to take you away." How awful! I feel so sorry for those children.
Psalm 127:3 says that children are a "heritage from the Lord" and the "fruit of the womb is a reward". Children are a heritage and a reward, and what a blessing they are! I've heard it said that we can't take anything with us when we leave this earth. But that's not true: we can take our children. Our children are our biggest spiritual investment....an investment that will last for eternity. My prayer is that the Lord will take my feeble efforts at raising these "heritages" and use them for His glory.
Psalm 127:5 : "Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.They shall not be ashamed. But speak with their enemies in the gate."
