I want a big family. I do. I haven’t always wanted to be the mother duck with little ducklings waddling behind me. My plan was I’d have one child and stay home with him until he started school. I remember feeling confused, trying to reason “when” I’d actually have time to have a second child – if I did something so radical.
Sweetly over the years the Lord has changed my heart from one that was marred with feminist ideas of modern womanhood, even as a Christian, to one that fully embraces family and children as part of God’s blessing.
I hear a lot of talk about pro-life and pro-adoption. And while I wholeheartedly support both causes, I want to hear more about pro-pregnancy, pro-family, pro-baby. Large families are a walking, living, pro-life message. The world needs to know children are a blessing, not a burden. And creating more eternal souls for God’s glory did not pass away in the olden days.
Every time we go out with our children we’re saying “We have children and they’re a good thing!”
I’m not after a number. That’s one of the questions we are asked a lot, “are you going to have another” and “well, just how many children are you going to have?” My answer is always we’re going to have all the children that the Lord God Almighty has predestined for us to have. I always love my husbands answer to the question how many children we’re going to have, “all of them.”
This is why I’ve devoured Nancy Campbell’s book, Be Fruitful and Multiply | What The Bible Says About Having Children. You can find my review of her book over on At the Well today. I highly recommend this book if you’re a Christian woman looking for answers about having children.
Here’s an excerpt from my article; “I was reminded that Jesus was from a big family and children are God’s idea. This book clearly offers reminders throughout that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. Nancy Campbell plainly lays out the history of the birth control movement, the acceptance of contraceptives within the Christian church and how those events led us to the world wide abortion massacre that we have before us today. How many God-fearing Christian women use the birth control pill or an IUD and are unaware of the devastating affects related to them?”
“The Pill may cause more early abortions in the United States than are caused by chemical and surgical abortions. With an estimated 13.8 million American women on the Pill, they may well be causing approximately two million early abortions each year.” Be Fruitful and Multiply pg. 175
If this is a new way of thinking for you, don’t let my words be another law or noose. As with everything, pray about it, seek the Lord and His peace that passes all understanding. May you be richly blessed.
Also, I added a link-up below. If you’re a big family, or a big family at heart, add your site below so we can find one another.
I completely agree with you! We get questioned a lot about when we’re going to stop too, now that we’re on #3. We’ll stop when we feel God telling us it’s time to. I also love the “Wow… you have your hands full!” comment. I always respond with one I saw in another blog a few months ago… “Sure do! Full of wonderful things! <3"
At any rate, like I said, I do agree with you wholeheartedly on this issue. And I agree with a lot of what Nancy Campbell has to say, too. But I feel like she's a very militant extremist about it, and that kind of bothers me. I don't think the point should be to make guilt-inducing rules for women to have to follow… the culture we live in showers women and mothers with enough guilt and negativity! I think the point should be to love and encourage women to celebrate life, pregnancy and motherhood and to follow the Lord's guidance where those things are concerned.
Heather, I love that comment “hands full of wonderful things!” Congrats on your new one coming soon. I enjoyed Nancy’s book so much because it speaks throughout that children are a blessing and as women motherhood is a high calling. I believe that, but I feel it needs to be shouted from the roof-tops for modern women to hear. I’ve never heard a sermon or teaching on motherhood. I hear plenty on faith, fear, emotions etc, but nothing heavy on motherhood as a calling. I don’t personaly mind Nancy’s passion. I have to dig to find books & resources on the subject. In the end each woman needs to ask the Lord where He wants her. He’s changed my heart over many, many years. Thanks for your thoughtful comment! (Now, come over & play
It is so refreshing to hear other mommies talk about what a joy kids are. I, too, was a borderline feminist who thought three kids was the greatest number of kids anyone should have. Now, I look at families that are large and think, “Wow! God has blessed them beyond measure.” It’s amazing how God can change one’s heart.
It is amazing how God can change a persons heart. He is so gentle about it. Many of us ladies after years of the world & feminist views (whether we know we have them or not) have quite a bit of mental renewal that we must go through to line up with God’s Word. Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t read Be Fruitful and Multiply, but now I will, thanks to you.
We have nine children and eight grandchildren and one more on the way <3 so far!
I always laugh when I think that my original plan was to have zero children. Fortunately for all, God had a better plan for my life. I also was never going to be a teacher, and here I am teaching my children at home.
I know it seems militant to be extremely pro-family, but recall that the abolitionists were viewed as radical militants. People of that day lacked understanding about slavery. It took years for governments to outlaw slavery. I have a feeling that reading Uncle Tom's Cabin made a lot of people feel guilty.
I agree with Jamerrill and Heather that you should pray and seek the Lord about it.
Harriet, I think you’ll enjoy the book. Some reviews I’ve read have questioned her usage of certain verses. I. Personaly was at great peace reading the book. Thank you for your history reference. I agree, others are inflamed w/ sharing their views, and while I follow the road of “leading with love,” I believe there needs to be more on passionate motherhood. Have you read Mary Pride’s book on coming home? It’s in it’s 25th anniversary print, I can’t wait to order it!
When it first came out I read it. It helped me along the way. [Wait, I can't be that old!]
Such a great post. I wrote two in the past week that say this, only in words of my own. So wonderful to be here today. Blessings, Catherine.
http://catherineanne5.blogspot.com/2011/09/standing-at-sink-her-hands-coverd-in.html
Amen!
My large family is a huge part of my testimoney about God’s mercy and grace. We’ve been married almost 21 years. The first 9 years, my heart ached to have children, and I daily sought the Lord on this issue. Through that process, I came to a point of letting God be God in my life. A point of total trust of His authority over my body and my life. It was a difficult transition for a young woman who believed we make our own choices and control our own life. Also during this time, I spent many years as a missionary to the Amish people who traditionally have 10 to 15 children. Though I do not embrace their religion (they serve and are baptised, not into the Father Son and Holy Spirit, but instead into the Amish Church, a cult, even though they call themselves new testiment Christians, it is very far from biblical truth). During our time with them (about 15 years) we worked steadfastly with the help of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom through Jesus Christ to many Amish in bondage. But some of the exposure to their way of life, especially raising large families and the role of the parents in the home, had a huge impact on my own life, and I am greatful for the time the Lord allowed us to spend with them.
Now, I am 41 years old and just a few days away from delivering my seventh child. I have 5 living children ages 11, 9, 6, 4, and 3, and one child in heaven. This next child is due October 20th.
Just a few days ago, an older couple walking in the park stopped me and said “Are these all your children?” I confidently said “Yes”. Looking at my large pregnant belly they said “Don’t you think you have enough?” I told them my fertility is in God’s hands. I do not try to make it happen or prevent it, but accept how many children the Lord desires to give me. They they said “Are you Catholic?” I said no, I am a Christian and believe God knows more than I do.” The wife mumbled under her breath “Same difference”. Then I told her “God’s ways are not our own, and sometimes it is hard to understand why he allows things in our life”. I told her of my infertility of 9 years. She then opened her heart to hear the message, and shared her own losses and how late in life she had four children and two miscarriages. She cried. She told me she is 80 years old. All along, she thought she was in charge and decided how many children she had. Now she looked at it as God controlled it. Her heart was softened to hear about the Lord.
This picture happens almost weekly. Folks stop me to talk about why I have so many children. God uses each of these opportunities to bring glory to himself, and I am blessed to share this story and see how it impacts others for Him and in turn impacts me even more.
I am blessed!
Melinda, thank you for sharing your testimony. It is incredible. My God continue to open doors daily for you to share. Thanks for stopping by!
Though our large family is comprised of a combination of birth and adopted children, I get many comments from people who assume that we must be “done” now. I tell them that we don’t know because it’s in God’s hands and if He has more children planned for our family, we will be obedient to that. They usually shake their heads in disbelief and tell me that they can hardly manage their two kids so they could never handle more. I laugh and tell them that I felt the same way when I had two kids!!! I see each one of my seven as a blessing and can’t imagine my life without them. (plus, leaving God in control is exciting because you never know what kind of “surprises” might be in store!)
Sharla, I would love to adopt too. After our season of doing foster care we’re kind of tired of “the system.” I belive though when it’s the Lords time he’ll put everything in place. You have a beautiful family.
This is a beautiful post.
We fall toward the smaller end of *large* families ~ we have 4 children. But in our area it seems to be a source of wonder for onlookers. My friends thought I was crazy to have 3! I have no idea what they think now
Four is large Jenny!
i have loved this book for years- glad you found it too!!
Thanks Tami, I really enjoyed it!