Children Are A Blessing

When I first found out I was expecting Rooster, I was all jumps and giggles. Who could have known that peeing on a stick would bring so much joy! I couldn’t wait to meet him and start my life with my little bundle of joy! He truly is a blessing! A gift from God.

Day Rooster Was Born

We know the Bible clearly teaches that children are a blessing from the Lord. The psalms are full of prayers and songs praising God for the gift of Children. Probably the most well-known verses are in Psalm 127.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior    are the children of one's youth.Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”

 Children are called a heritage, a reward, and a blessing.

Now, when I usually think of a blessing I think of a beautiful, cool, sunny day, free from work and stress, a Sonic drink in hand, and extra spending money in my pocket. That’s a blessing! However, with a baby in tow, those “blessed” days are few and far between! Instead, God has chosen to bless me with dirty diapers (which constantly need washed) and a messy house. I sure I don’t need to tell you how much work children can be! They turn the house upside down, color on the walls, swallow spare change, play in the toilet, and are generally disobedient all before lunch time.

In the past year of motherhood I’ve often wondered just what I did to deserve such a great reward. Sure there are plenty of giggles and smiles, play times and sweet nap times, but it’s so easy to lose sight of those good things when you are sleep deprived and trying to get smashed banana out of the carpet.  

So today I just want to offer you a reminder, something to hold on to in the busy and blessed days of sleepless nights and poopy diapers. A reminder of just why God calls our children a blessing.

1.  Children are our legacy. As Christians we are called to live a life that impacts the people around us and children can increase that impact 10 fold. I am standing here to before you today because of the life of my mother and grandmother, because they lived a life that was faithful to please God, because they chose to teach their children about the love and saving grace of Jesus. If we raise children who see our faith lived out on a daily basis, we can guarantee that our impact won’t be lost on future generations.  The wisdom of Proverbs rings true: if we raise up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it. There really is more than one way to grow a church. Yes, our church is grown when we witness and share our faith with others, but equally important are the small additions we make one baby at a time. When we seek to pass on our faith to our children, we are ensuring that the faith will continue to be a blessing to our family and our church long after we’ve gone.   

2.  Children are character builders. I believe God has gifted children with the innate ability to push their mother’s buttons. I’ve found that Rooster has a way of getting his sweet grubby hands all over my sin nature. In the last year my patience, kindness, cheerfulness, and resolve to do the right thing has been tested more times than I can count. Each day I find myself rolling out of bed (much early than I intended) forced to make the tough decision and do the right thing. I must choose not to lose my temper, not to speak harsh words, and to just keep smiling.

It’s not easy, and I’m not all that good at it. But I keep trying because I believe one of the greatest blessings of motherhood is the opportunity to be more like Christ with each passing day. This is not to say that we will ever be perfect mothers or perfect Christians. However, you show me a woman who is patient, kind, and compassionate, and I’ll show you a mother who has struggled through the terrible twos and become a better person because of it! Children have a way of reminding us of our own sin by living it out in front of us day by day. In my experience this should be enough to humble any mother, and hopefully bring her to a deeper dependence on Christ! 

3.  Children are eternal. I love to tell my husband that children are the only hobby I can take to heaven with me. In a world full of distractions, work, and entertainment, let’s not forget that children are a blessing simply because they last forever. Nothing you do during your day will have as much impact on eternity as the little people you work to grow and cultivate. As a wife and mother it’s easy to get so caught up in the urgent things of life, that we forget the most important things.  We worry about money, food, and clothing. We feel the pull of busy schedules and the endless tasks of working and caring for our homes. However, nothing you do or provide for your children will ever have as much impact as the time you spend with them and the words you say to them. Reading and singing together, training and correcting them in love, teaching them scripture and worshiping God together, praying with them and for them, none of these things are likely to make your to-do list, but trust me, they have eternal significance. 

My greatest prayer as a mother is that one day I will be able to stand before my Savior with my children, and hear him say “well done”. I believe that’s the true blessing of children, and it’s a blessing worth fighting for. It’s worth those late nights and early mornings. It’s worth the time spent training my children in obedience and spiritual devotion. It’s worth my daily decision to die to myself and live for Christ. It’s my legacy here on earth and in heaven.

And today my desire for you is that you can have that same prayer, that same hope, and that same wonderful blessing.

Rooster and Mommy, 11 months old, Camping