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Mark and I want as many (or as few) children as the Lord sends us. It's exciting to watch His hand on my womb and see His constant provisions! While we'd LOVE to have 12 (or even more), we truly desire to see HIM plan out how many blessings He sends us.
The awe-inspiring and faith-encouraging thing that we've seen happen through our births (5), our miscarriages (7) and our adoptions (3), is that with each one GOD has provided physically, emotionally, mentally and financially in MIRACULOUS Old Testament-type ways. It gives me chills. Does that mean that we have enough money to spend on worldly luxuries? No. Not always. My husband keeps us all on a tight budget. We cut a few corners to provide for our family. We resist buying "new" cars and the fineries that most Americans consider to be basics. And ya know what? I believe that we're happier and more content than all the "modern" families with all their "basics". I trust that God (and God alone) knows what's best for us and will never send any child that will prove to be a DRAIN or a BURDEN to us, as a family.
Can we make lifestyle choices that will hurt us financially? Yes! Will some people then blame the "extra children" as being the cause of that financial hardship and ruin? Yes! But I wholeheartedly believe that though life is not easy (and sometimes we Americans expect it to be that way if we "plan" well), Christians will see that their God is all-powerful and all-knowing when He rewards His children with offspring and then rewards those who are good stewards with what they've been given with financial security (not new cars or big houses, but the true basics of food, clothing and shelter).
So, I see that the issue of "affording children" is really about righteous stewardship. If God is the Potter of human souls and we are the clay, we should accept His Will through the children that only He creates. We should accept the blessings we've been or will be given and manage our resources wisely. Leave the rest to God!
The awe-inspiring and faith-encouraging thing that we've seen happen through our births (5), our miscarriages (7) and our adoptions (3), is that with each one GOD has provided physically, emotionally, mentally and financially in MIRACULOUS Old Testament-type ways. It gives me chills. Does that mean that we have enough money to spend on worldly luxuries? No. Not always. My husband keeps us all on a tight budget. We cut a few corners to provide for our family. We resist buying "new" cars and the fineries that most Americans consider to be basics. And ya know what? I believe that we're happier and more content than all the "modern" families with all their "basics". I trust that God (and God alone) knows what's best for us and will never send any child that will prove to be a DRAIN or a BURDEN to us, as a family.
Can we make lifestyle choices that will hurt us financially? Yes! Will some people then blame the "extra children" as being the cause of that financial hardship and ruin? Yes! But I wholeheartedly believe that though life is not easy (and sometimes we Americans expect it to be that way if we "plan" well), Christians will see that their God is all-powerful and all-knowing when He rewards His children with offspring and then rewards those who are good stewards with what they've been given with financial security (not new cars or big houses, but the true basics of food, clothing and shelter).
So, I see that the issue of "affording children" is really about righteous stewardship. If God is the Potter of human souls and we are the clay, we should accept His Will through the children that only He creates. We should accept the blessings we've been or will be given and manage our resources wisely. Leave the rest to God!
4 comments:
Jennifer, Thank you so much for sharing this, with us all, today! What a true message: The Lord will be Faithful. He will bless those who do what He ways is right, and leave the basics to Him, to provide. He enriches and heals our souls and renews and restores our minds, and takes care of our bodies, when we hear Him, and (trust Him, and) obey Him.
Praise The Lord!
Kathy A. in TN
I'm so sorry; a mom wrote that she posted "what was shared." But it looks like this "post" was written by you, Lisa. I am so-o very sorry!!!!!! aagh! (Please, do not publish this comment!)
Love in The Lord, Kathy A. in TN
So true and my sentiments exactly! I'm sorry for so many of my friends that have been deceived by the world about what will make them happy. They think they're being good stewards by not having any more children, but they've missed the point- their children are their treasures, not the money they think they need to provide for their lifestyle.
Celee
Great post!
We're expecting our 14th and here's the story of how we "afford" ours.
http://muttersmeanderings.blogspot.com/2010/07/our-storythe-long-version.html
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