Children are Blessings

We live in a culture that hates children. They are seen as annoying, distracting, and inconvenient. There are so many examples of this! Summer break starts, and many parents whine about having their kids home. School starts and parents rejoice about “not having to deal” with them anymore - but then whine about how many pairs of shoes they have to buy because *gasp* their feet grew. Not that long ago - a whole three years ago - if you walked through a store, you’d inevitably see a stressed-out mother barking at her children to stop, stop, stop! (Now we place orders for pickup and avoid the chance to train our kids how to act in public!) There are bumper stickers of little faces with “financial burden on board” written next to them. Some people take it a step further and use children for their own gain, through pedophilia and trafficking and murder. It is even considered “brave” to murder a child in the womb, if it means the mom will supposedly have a better life without the child.

Now, not everyone sees children this way or treats them poorly. But our culture is very anti-children, and I am using these examples to prove that point.

Is this negative perspective on children what Scripture teaches? Are children distracting from other good works? Are they just here for cute Instagram photos and hopefully the chance to brag on their accomplishments in college some day? Do their lives have actual meaning and purpose?

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.”
Psalm 127:3

Scripture tells us that children are a heritage - a legacy; something that goes beyond one generation. They are a reward, and they were created on purpose!

“Children are not distractions from more important work. They are the most important work.”
C.S. Lewis

Children are a heritage and reward…

…when pregnancy and labor are hard, and the first few days are spent in the NICU.

…when the days are long and filled with messes.

…when they sleep well, and when they don’t.

…when they are cheerful, or chronically sick.

…when bouts of sickness rampage the whole family.

…when they learn lessons quickly, or take their time.

…when they ask uncomfortable questions and put you on the spot.

…when your plans for them pan out, and when they don’t.

…when they arrive in your family biologically, through foster care, and through adoption.

…when they appreciate your efforts for them and when they don’t.

…when they like your cooking, and when they don’t.

And on and on we can go. We don’t get to decide whether or not our children are gifts; God says they are! When the temptation comes to complain about your child, bring this truth to mind. Bring it to mind when you are tempted to compare your child to another woman’s child.

Have you ever prayed that God would allow you to see your children how He sees them? This is one way to do just that! Memorize Psalm 127:3 and train yourself to recall it in every situation. You will see more often just how your children are blessings. Your child/children were made by Him and put specifically in your family. He has given you a heritage, and a reward! Praise Him and thank Him often! We may not be able to change our culture’s view on children singlehandedly. But we can provide a home where our children know that they have worth from God, based on what Scripture says about them. Families built around the Word of God do collectively change culture over time. Be encouraged!

That Time God Said YES

It’s easy to lose the awe that comes when we experience direct answers to specific prayers. We think we’ll remember, but the mundane and the busy redirect our brains, and those amazing moments can be lost. Some years ago, I began recording each of those treasured times, those times when I just knew it was God’s yes in a very specific way. I call it my Little Book of Miracles—and I’m now on book four. In the month of March, I’m excited to share a few of these precious stories with you. Some are profound. Some are almost silly. Yet all of them remind me of the ways God has met my needs and often my wants … miraculously. I hope you enjoy celebrating these moments with me, and I urge you to start your own Little Book of Miracles.

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” —Jeremiah 32:27 ESV

It was my daughter’s birthday. Her husband was overseas for the year and unable to celebrate with her. I decided to help my grandchildren, ages seven, five, and three, buy little presents for their mama—teaching them the joy of giving and, at the same time, blessing their mom during a hard year in her life. Off we trotted to the van, where three little bodies were strapped in safe and sound, full of chatter and excitement about the Big Adventure of shopping at the mall with me, their Nina.

I had set a $10 limit for each of them, so they would have to choose carefully what special present they wanted their beloved mama to have. We hadn’t even made it out of the driveway before it became apparent they had no idea how much $10 would buy. The excitement was building as they discussed what they would purchase. “Diamonds!” shouted one. “I want to buy her many jewels, Nina. And gold,” said another. “Oh dear,” thought I, trying to prepare them by suggesting we shop at a little costume jewelry store and chip in all the money together to get one pretty necklace with “jewels.” They were not having it. “Oh, no, Nina. We want to buy her earrings and necklaces. Each of us our own.” I tried to explain that $10 could not possibly buy both earrings and a necklace, but they were so excited that my gentle attempts at reining them in fell on deaf ears.

This was quite the situation for a Nina who has a very hard time saying no to her grandchildren. (See Nina Lost Her “No” Button for further information on this sad fact.) I broke through the chatter and did the only thing I could do when facing the impossible, I said, “Let’s pray for God’s help, okay?” They seriously bowed their little heads as I pleaded with God for some help here please. Suddenly this adventure didn’t seem quite as grand as I had imagined. I pictured very disappointed little ones trudging home with something much less than they had envisioned. I loved their desire to give their mother something big, but I really couldn’t spend more than the allotted amount. So I prayed. With a very little bit of faith. In a mess of desperation.

When we arrived at the mall, we headed toward the costume jewelry store. On our way, we passed a much finer store—actually their mom’s favorite store. I saw a “sale” sign in the display window and suggested we go in and look. Sure enough, the beautiful necklaces with gold and “jewels” were $24.95 on sale. Great! But certainly not cheap enough for each grandchild to buy their very own to give their mom … let alone earrings as well. I started to explain this to them, but the lady behind the counter overheard our conversation and came over to help. She smiled and said, “Follow me.” She led us to another section of the store, where their extreme sale was going on. Buy earrings for $9.95 and choose a necklace for free! I kid you not.

Each child, happily unaware of this little miracle, chose with glee the necklace and earrings he or she thought were the prettiest for their mom. The kind clerk wrapped them all individually with each child’s name affixed to their package, so their mom could see what each had chosen especially for her.

I walked out of that store just stunned. I have to confess I hadn’t really expected that God would actually do what I had asked. I was more hoping He’d help me stem their disappointment. As we celebrated with pretzels, the oldest grandson led us in a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s help. I felt like doing a victory dance. It was so much fun to see how God had orchestrated our morning and taught the children (and Nina!) a valuable lesson in giving and in asking.

Oh, you should have seen the joy as each child presented their “gold and jewels” to their mother on her birthday. She loved seeing their happiness and their desire to give—perhaps even more than the “jewels.” But she liked those, too. After all, we had shopped at her favorite place. It was a sweet birthday celebration despite the absence of the father and husband they all loved and missed.

I tucked away the memory. A sweet time when a crazy little desperate prayer was answered with a resounding yes by a God who says, “Is anything too hard for Me?” Sometimes, we just need to ask. Like a child. Trusting that God will answer us as He knows best. I’m so glad I did that day. We would have missed out on a “little miracle” that turned into a big reminder that our God cares about us—in the little and the big things of life.

Father, I’m still smiling over Your amazing provision. Such a crazy little wish not to disappoint my grandchildren, answered beyond my imagination. Thank You. Help us come to You whenever we have a trouble, big or small. Nothing is too hard for You, Lord, and You welcome Your children to come and ask. Help us to trust Your answers, knowing You are good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Originally written by Sharon Gamble of Sweet Selah Ministries. Used with permission.