Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Thankful for Only a Few Children?


Strong Christian women have told me they're thankful they only had a few children so they can give each one of them plenty of their time and attention. When they say this, I'm thinking, "Is this in accordance with God's Word since He calls children blessings from Him and blessed is He whose quiver is full of them?" I know that most children's FAVORITE gift in the whole world is when mom brings home another sibling so it just never sat right with me. I watched the Duggar family with 19 children, the Bates family with 19 children and the Willis family with 12 children and all of the children seem happy and well-adjusted so I could never quite put it into words why the sentiment of only having a few children seemed wrong to me until Kelly Crawford wrote a post about it.

She has 10 children and is home full-time with them. "I am home all day. I eat three meals a day, around the table, talking with my children. I read to them several times a day. I take walks with different children each day. Sometimes, I just sit and talk with one or two of them. When I go somewhere, I take turns taking a child or two with me. Sometimes we write letters to each other, being more open about our feeling through writing...I spend an exorbitant amount of time with my children because I have it and because I'm keenly aware and deliberate about their needs."

She doesn't scurry from here to there but stays home most of the time to be with her family. From everything I have witnessed, children from large families are very happy and well-adjusted. They are usually generous since they have learned how to share. They know how to get along well with others since they have been taught by their parents and practiced with their siblings. They are not nearly as selfish as most children since they usually don't get a lot of "stuff" and learn to give and take. They are hard workers since they all need to chip in to keep everything moving smoothly. Finally, they are usually godly children since it seems that mostly Christians are having the large families these days. They are usually homeschooled and don't need many playmates outside of their home, since they are blessed to live with many playmates. They don't get bored! The parents are serious about raising godly offspring for the Lord. 

If a mother is present with her children all day, her children will have PLENTY of time with her. Therefore, she must NOT be watching a lot of television or spending a lot of time on her iPhone or Internet, which she probably wouldn't have time for anyways! She also needs to be careful she is not involved in a lot of outside activities that keep her away from home often, remembering she is called to give her life away for her family but Oh, the blessings she will receive in return!

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; 
so are children of the youth. 
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: 
they shall not be ashamed,
 but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:4, 5

Comments (32)

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I agree with what was said. However, people also must realize just because you have a small family doesn't mean you didn't want a big family, I have three healthy children, but 5 ended up in miscarriages. I have been question why the large spaces and I than tell them I had a miscarriage in between. Than you can see they almost feel bad.

My mother was told that after her first child she couldn't have no more. Eleven years later I was born. Some families just have problems in this area. The Bates family did experience this with their daughter Erin Bates. I don't think we hear a lot from this side of how difficult it can be to have children.

I realized this wasn't what your post was about, to go against us who can't or have trouble with having children. I just feel for families who struggle in this area and sometimes this is not mention in articles like this.

I feel blessed finding your blog, because I have learned so much from it. I didn't really want to post this but I feel for those ladies out there just like me, who struggle with wanting more.
Blessings!
3 replies · active 506 weeks ago
My husband and I have 9 children. We were at the grocery store with our youngest 6 kids ages 7 years down to 10 months old. We walked in the door and a man noticed us and I prepared myself for the comments. He looked at us and yelled out "hey, them all your kids?" I said yes they are and he replied with "I feel sorry for you." I looked at him with a smile and said "I don't know why we're having great fun!"
1 reply · active 506 weeks ago
In my experience, when people say they only want one or two kids so they can focus more time on each child, it's because they have other priorities like vacations, a career, and a big fancy house that come before the kids. Because they prioritize those things, they only have a little bit of time and energy left for kids. Thus, they think they only have the time and money for one or two kids and that having more kids would result in neglecting some of them. But if you change your perspective and put kids as the priority, you'll find that there is plenty of time and money for them and that other things can be let go a little in order to invest in more children. As the Bible says, we should lay up our treasures in heaven, not here on earth, and having children that are raised to love and serve God is one of the main ways to do that.
1 reply · active 506 weeks ago
Great article. It was that way for us to; wanting a large family but only giving birth to one biological child. For us God had a different plan to increase our 'quiver'; it was through adoption. But it was US who waited too long trying to have more biologically; rather than step up to the plan that He had for us. My advice to all disciples of Christ is that, if you are trying to have children and it doesn't happen .... then, it might be time to shift gears into a different mindset.
1 reply · active 506 weeks ago
Amen!!!
I have a question about mothers struggling with severe depression and being able to function as a Christian mother should... Even with professional and spiritual help, they still struggle at times to endure every day life, let alone raise multiple children. Are they excused from having more? I ask because I've personally known a mother like this. There are days she cannot even shower because she is so down. Does God understand that some wives just aren't cut out to have children? I realize this is not what your post is about, and I apologize for that. Please delete it if you want to. It's just a genuine question that I've often wondered about, as well as mothers who are extremely high risk when it comes to pregnancy (honestly, I am a high-risk mother too and was cautioned by doctors to not have more. We only have one, who had health problems as she was born premature, although now she is perfectly healthy. We are still praying about this issue and what God would want. So far we haven't gotten pregnant again anyway, so I wonder if that is God's way of telling me it's okay. I have a peace when I pray about it.) Thanks for any insight you can give, as I know you give sound advice. I realize it's a tough and complex question... I've thought about going to my pastor, but he is a new to our church and I'm not comfortable asking him.
1 reply · active 506 weeks ago
Michael Farris, father to ten, says in his book about motherhood that each couple should have as many as their faith could handle...just something to think about.
1 reply · active 506 weeks ago
When people ask us how many many children we have, I answer "only 5".
We wanted more.
1 reply · active 506 weeks ago
I have two beautiful sons who are all grown up - God gave me the number he knew I could do my best with. Some women want a few children, others want lots and some don't want any - we are all very different and that should be respected by other women. As long as the children we have are loved dearly and wanted, it really doesn't matter how many we have.
2 replies · active 505 weeks ago
Wonderful post as usual Lori. I haven't commented in a while but I do still check in! :) I am curious - I know there's not a specific number probably, but I've always wondered what exactly a "quiverfull" means. My husband and I grew up in families of 8 children and loved it. We have 4 so far and to be honest - I do feel totally maxed out and stretched to my limits at times. However, I know that God always provides a way for us to accomplish the plans he has for us.
4 replies · active 506 weeks ago
I just don't think this is all that realistic in today's world. The cost of raising a child is expensive. I'm not focused on other things like vacations or career, I would be completely dedicated to raising a child. However, the cost of raising and sending multiple children to college is unbearable for most families. I work in financial aid at a university and every day I meet families who want the best for their children but struggle so hard to provide, often with both parents working. Expecting a mom to stay home with no income and putting so much pressure on a husband to provide for a huge family is not always plausible in today's economy.

Plus, suppose one parent was to become ill. How would the other parent manage such a large family? Personally, I have no children, but always wanted 2 or 3. Last year I was diagnosed with cancer. Now when I look to my future, I want to be a mother so badly but there's no way I would have 3 children. What if it comes back, I would potentially put 3 children through that ordeal? No. Putting 1 through it is bad enough.. You never know when tragedy is going to strike, and diseases and accidents do happen. Leaving a spouse with a dozen children isn't something that I would want to do.
You seem like a wonderful person and I enjoy your blog, but I find myself getting angry at it a lot. You are so hesitant to blame a man for anything. Men cheat, lie, and do terrible things. A woman should be able to take care of herself if she has to.
2 replies · active 506 weeks ago
I'm the woman who commented about a year ago whose husband was unwilling to have children, and your advice to me was to "win him without a word." A few weeks ago he came to me and admitted that his reasons for wanting to avoid parenthood were selfish (less money, less free time, etc.) and he's now willing to start a family. I just wanted to thank you for your advice all that time ago and for keeping me from nagging at him, which probably only would have made him dig in his heels further. I think the world would be much improved if more young women were willing to listen to the advice of godly older ladies.
1 reply · active 506 weeks ago
I just found out I'm pregnant again. I have 4 children here and 3 in Heaven. DH is struggling. This child like all the others were sent by God. :) I'm choosing to have faith and trust God, believing He will do a work in DH too. God got all of us in the palm of His hands. :)
As a 40 year old women (a stay at home, homeschooling mom) with 3 children, my husband and I were convicted for having a vasectomy. We thought we were "done". We found that it's never our decision to how many children we have but Gods decision. We give our lives fully to Christ which means our womb as well. We weren't raised with these ideas (of allowing the Lord to have full control of family size) of "family planning" but however the conviction was so strong that my husband had a reversal done in order to put things right before our Creator allowing Him to create when He chooses and not when we choose. He showed us that whenever He brings forth a blessing there is always provision that comes along with it. And if our lives are not in line with His will we can and often times do not "see" the provision because we're too busy looking elsewhere and therefore do not receive the provision. So now....at 40 I'm amazed that His desire fills me and I now want Him to bless us again. It's amazing how our hearts change when we give Him full reign.

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