"Arrows and Olive Plants"
Have you ever stopped to evaluate your attitudes about children? I mean the real attitudes of your heart ....not just the empty words that we sometimes say! When we were first married and were petitioning the Lord for children, people would often say to us, "Just wait until you have children!" as if it were a curse to be avoided. When we finally welcomed our first little girl into the world, it was, "Just wait until you have a boy!"...then "Just wait until they get to the terrible twos!" "Wait until they get to be teenagers!" they would threaten. One day I was walking in the mall with my 3 little blessings, ages 4, 3 and 19 months. It had only been about a month since our 4th baby, Daniel Seth, had died. I was just getting out into the world again and my heart was broken. A lady in the mall offered one of the most common comments we hear, "Are ALL THOSE YOURS??" (Said with disgust) When I responded, "Yes!" she put her hand to her head as if cocking a gun, and pulled the trigger, supplying the sound effects as well. It was the last straw for my already broken heart, and I sat down right there and cried. All through the years it has broken my heart to hear the comments of unthinking people, often in front of their own children. I can't count the times moms have told me, "How do you handle ALL THOSE KIDS? The two I have are driving me crazy!" Do those moms ever stop to think how those comments make their own children feel?? Even when made in "jest", it is hurtful to little hearts. Please go with me to the ONLY source of wisdom, God's Word, to see what He has to say about children.
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127:3
Children are called an heritage and a reward!
"As arrows in then hand of a mighty man, so are children of the youth." Psalm 127:4
Children are as valuable as arrows to a mighty warrior! What warrior would want to go into battle with only one or two arrows??
"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 127:5
Who is to say when our quiver is full?? We have found a great peace in leaving this decision entirely up to the Lord and trusting in His wisdom for our lives!
It seems pretty clear that children are to be viewed by Christians as a blessing and a reward, NOT as a burden or a curse!! The only time children were viewed in Scripture as less than a joy is when they were not trained correctly to love and serve the Lord. "Now the sons of Eli were the sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord." 1 Samuel 2:12
It is my opinion that many in our country blame the pro rights people for the scourge of abortion in our land, and it IS a tragedy that people would kill innocent children in the womb. I believe that it is the Christians' unscriptural view of children that is at fault. Most Christians have bought into the world's view of children as a burden, a huge financial responsibility that is not worth the trouble. How many times have I heard moms say, "I can't wait until school starts back and I can get these kids out of the house!!" Many Christian families have believed the lie that the perfect number of children is two, and that more than that is irresponsible on our part. HOW SAD!! What joy they are missing!!! I am so thankful for the 7 "olive plants" God has put around our table, and for the 3 we have awaiting us in heaven! I have never regretted spending all day, every day with my precious children!!
"Thy
wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house; thy children like
'olive plants' round about thy table. Behold that thus shall the man be BLESSED
that feareth the Lord."
Psalm 128:3-4
Where do these unscriptural attitudes come from and why do people despise children as they do?? That is the subject of another post, and will be dealt with in Part Two!! Please join us there!!