Opinions on these procedures are many and varied. What I am going to write about on this topic is only my opinion. I could spend a lot of hours studying all the side effects, but I am not going to do that. I am only going to give you what I believe through common sense and knowledge of God's Word.
Both procedures stop a normal bodily function. I know many men have had vasectomies and are fine. However, it just doesn't seem healthy to me. here does all that sperm go? It is just like the birth control pill stopping periods.
People get "fixed" because they no longer want children. God tells us that children are gifts from God. Why would anyone want to stop their ability to receive gifts from God? As I have gotten older, I realize more and more that children are one of the greatest blessings in life.
I have been reading through these articles written by a woman who had ten children. She and her husband decided early in life to completely allow God to plan their children. They had very little money. They believed God when He said He was their provider. Her husband has always worked hard. She stayed home full-time right after they were married.
The children are all between two and a half and three years apart using no birth control. They were consistent in disciplining them and teaching them the ways of the Lord. No, it wasn't always easy but she realized her life was about being a living sacrifice for the Lord. Her rewards have been amazing.
I have heard of these kind of stories over and over again. When you truly trust God, He provides abundantly for you. Mothers decide to stay home and be full time wives and mothers, then the husbands' income increases.
I hear a lot of "but what about..." out there. Instead, you should be saying "but God..." I am not saying you need to let God be in control of how many children you should have or you will be sinning. It is an issue that needs to be decided between you and your husband.
I am just writing this because I feel like I was lied to when I was younger. I believed the lies of society and the church. I believed we should only have x amount of children so we could give them everything they needed.
I trust God much more now. I like Him being in control and not worrying about the future. I LOVE the blessing and gifts of children. Pray carefully before doing anything to cut off your ability to have children permanently. That is all I am asking you to do.
Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3
Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3
Tina M. Piper · 675 weeks ago
sarah · 675 weeks ago
Amy · 675 weeks ago
Sheila Payne · 675 weeks ago
Sheila Payne · 675 weeks ago
Sweet Emma is adorable. No question on that one at all.
Hannah · 675 weeks ago
Sarah Z · 675 weeks ago
Brit · 675 weeks ago
We don't talk a lot about our family planning decisions to others as we think it's a private issue and we know our opinions are much different than our friends and family.
I'm 30 weeks pregnant with #3 and we will have 3 under 2 1/2 (as we adopted our second). After we got pregnant we had THREE Christian family/friends ask us if my husband was going to get a Vasectomy!! I could not believe what I was hearing! They were shocked to hear that we want and even pray for more blessings in our lives to come.
Even more than that has asked if we're done, if we're going to take a break and so on.
It amazes me how so many Christians search for and get what God says is evil (debt), but then they do everything to avoid what God says is a blessing (Children).
Lyn · 675 weeks ago
Anne · 675 weeks ago
Miranda 35p · 675 weeks ago
Linda · 675 weeks ago
Jessica · 675 weeks ago
Jessica · 675 weeks ago
Kaye · 675 weeks ago
I don't at all regret the decision we made. We still enjoy a healthy sex life, enjoy our two immensely, and don't plan on having any more of our own. If we decide we want to have more, we would be more than open to adoption, although the vasectomy is mostly likely reversible (they are meant to be).
I don't begrudge any of you the decision you have made just as I hope you do not begrudge me ours. It was a mutual decision between my husband and me. It was the one that we felt we should make. We have no guilt or hesitation about it. I don't feel like I am thwarting God either, as I know he can easily overcome that vasectomy any time He wants (happens all the time).
maria · 675 weeks ago
maria · 675 weeks ago
Alecia · 675 weeks ago
Jacie · 675 weeks ago
Rightthinker · 675 weeks ago
Unfortunately, once I had the ligation, I suffered from horrible post tubal ligation syndrome (PTLS). Even before I realized I regretted my decision (and it was MY decision..I did not pray about it, or listen to my husband, because after all, the feminist movement ingrains in us that it is "our body our choice". I had flooding periods, several migraines per month, and a host of other problems. After my OB and then my DO and my naturopath all told me it was likely from the TL since I was only in my late 20's and very healthy until then, we began to pray...
We saved the funds, and went to the best tubal ligation reversal doctor in the country, at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. I was pregnant the following month. He will be 3 the beginning of June, and was a great VBA2C. I found an OB and Catholic hospital an hour away in another state that "allows" VBAC's. He was followed 15 months later by Oliver in a homebirth and now I am 30 weeks pregnant with our 7th child, and we are planning another homebirth. We experienced a difficult later miscarriage last Spring, and yet, it is still God's good work!
Interesting that the ONLY blessing Christians tell God "no thank you" to, is that of children. In the Bible, children are ALWAYS blessings, never curses. We never say no thank you to health..to wealth..to any other blessing God bestows..but children, alas, children take sacrifice.
In our world, even most of the Christian world, children are only blessings if they are perfectly planned, perfectly spaced and college funded. I love the chapter in the Voddie Bachum book, "What He Must Be If He Wants to Marry My Daughter" that talks about the need for a future husband to desire children..definitely something difficult in our anti-children, pro-self culture.
It takes a great surrender, and one that is continual..realizing we are not living for self...I wouldn't have it any other way. I will raise whatever children God brings into our lives, on the promise that they are truly blessings from God Himself.
I don't begrudge others for choosing to limit their family size..it's between them and God. Though, I do think that being permanently sterilized has grave physical and emotional consequences, and using abortifacient birth control is a serious error handed down with pleasure from Margaret Sanger, the child and family hater herself.
We ought to take these things to the Lord..
Allison Renee · 675 weeks ago
Adoption is a great thing for families who have taken medical means to stop having children and then regretted it. So many children out there to be reached!
We have six children here and three in Heaven and open arms to all of the children that God chooses to send our way:) We believe that children are a blessing more with each child and each loss.
My mother had a hysterectomy after three children for medical reasons. She always morned not having more children and that greatly influenced my decision to have a large family:)
Tiffany · 675 weeks ago
Lori, do you believe there are ever any circumstances where it is okay to stop having children? Such as the health of the mother? Just curious what your thoughts are on that.
Holly · 675 weeks ago
Louisa · 675 weeks ago
Crystal · 675 weeks ago
It breaks my heart to see babies, and to see my friends announce their pregnancies, because I wanted desperately to have at least 1, or even 2 more children. And, I know that there will be people to criticize and claim that we have a lack of faith, but unless you have been to the depths of depression and panic attacks to the point where you nearly can't leave your house and can barely even take care of your family, you can't understand.
This is why my husband and I prayerfully made the decision we made, even though it broke my heart. And, as others have mentioned, if God really wanted us to have another child, then we will in spite of this measure.
I'm not trying to argue with you, because I completely understand where you are coming from, and I know that there will continue to be people who choose to place judgments on our choices, that is a fact of life. But I believe that God sees our hearts and circumstances as well and that is truly all that matters.