Babyhood and Beyond

"...while we need to beware the view that sees little children as a burden or a weight to be shaken off at the earliest opportunity, we must also eschew the view that sees them merely as romantic toys. They are not objects to be dressed up cutely and paraded around for the fun of observing their antics. They are little souls that are to be nurtured and trained for God's glory and that involves lots of things that would not look at all romantic to the world (or to the worldliness in us)."

~Denise Sproul

Tending Your Garden

One of the biggest misconceptions we have about families comes from their size. We sometimes assume the larger family loves children more than the smaller family. Sometimes this is true. Most often it's not.

While there are those who don't agree that children are gifts from the LORD and do everything they can to reject such gifts, we can't always judge a parent's love for children by the number that grace the home. Perhaps you know Moms, like I do, of large families who love the baby stage, but seem to lose interest in the duties of parenting once a child turns 3. The cuddly cuteness wears off a bit, and one's reminded that there are still YEARS of hard work ahead. Many precious blessings are left ignored and neglected all because they grew older. Meanwhile, those looking in from the outside, based on the number of children alone, declare, "She must really love children!"

Children aren't something to be collected. They're not to be only treasured when babies and discarded when they can walk on their own. They're not given to us for our own pleasure, though they do bring us unspeakable joy. Rather, our children are "little souls" (that become big souls) in need of the nurture and admonition of the LORD. Think on that! We're to be training them for HIS glory, diligently so, at 6 weeks old and at 16.

Knowing this should make us look at our children, no matter the age, no matter how many, with great wonder and gratitude. Let us not be so enamored with sleeping babies that we forget to tend the hearts of hungry teenagers. Let us not grow weary because the docile infant is now a mischievous toddler or a six year old who just isn't getting the whole phonics thing.

Let's pray for perseverance and JOY, whether we're nursing a baby or discussing politics with our teen, knowing that true love embraces the great privilege and duty the LORD has set before us, both in babyhood and beyond.

With love,

Trisha