The culture today focuses on a “do what makes you happy” mantra. Honestly, it sounds like great advice but it truly is not. It promotes a selfish ideology often at the expense of others including preborn children in the form of abortions.
Children should be celebrated and cherished. Instead they are treated by the current culture as disposable. Each and every child is a unique life—in the womb and out of it.
“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment” -Wess Stafford
The children placed in our lives are not by coincidence. We are there to positively impact their lives in some way.
Although my personal experience lies mostly in the raising of my own children—I’m also referring to encounters not of one’s own children. For instance, my aunt never had children of her own but left a lasting impact on me and my cousins. She was kind and caring, making each of us feel incredibly loved. That’s really it, she didn’t give us extravagant gifts or anything extraordinary she simply gave us her attention and made us feel important.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children[a] of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127
Put God first in your family and then everything else will follow. Children are a blessing in many ways, one way is that they are a part of your family and your legacy. That blessing is shown in many ways through everyday joys but it is also a blessing through the closeness of a family. When you are old they are there to care for you as you cared for them when they were young.
During my grandmother’s death, although it was sad it was also a beautiful experience to see all of her children and grandchildren come together under the same roof to care and love her. She promoted so much good and touched each of our lives in a loving way, nobody had any hesitation being by her bedside.
“Hugs can do great amounts of good—especially for children.” -Princess Diana
Raising children is complicated yet simple. It’s overwhelming at moments but so worth it. It can be frustrating but also one of the highest sources of joy.
Although there’s an unlimited amount of parenting resources available sometimes it’s the simple advice that is most effective. Love them, unconditionally. Hug them often. They deserve your love and they will give love back to you often in the sweetest and most unexpected ways.
“Children are living messages sent to a time we will not see.” -John F. Kennedy
“Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.” -James Dobson
The way we raise our children impacts the world beyond our lives. Our children live on through us as well. If we raise them without enormous amounts of love and care they could negatively impact our society. Or rather, if we instill solid values and morals with love they are likely to leave a positive impact on others.
“It’s the greatest poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.” -Mother Teresa