We are expecting our fifth child sometime around the beginning of May 2013!

We haven’t gone to the midwife yet, so we don’t know the exact date.  I am guessing about 4 -5 weeks.

When we were sure, Tony gathered the children together to tell them.  He said something was going to happen in 9 months then asked if they knew based on that.  Benjamin, in a sort of questioning voice asked if it was a baby.  When Tony confirmed, Benjamin looked over at me and said, “Your pregnant?!  Congratulations!”  He had so much enthusiasm in his voice and sounded so much like a close friend who is truly happy for you!  Oh he almost made me cry with happiness.  I loved hearing his joy over a new sibling.

Joy over another baby seems to be so rare in today’s time.  If you have one baby, most people are over joyed for you.  If you have two, the joy continues IF they are spaced appropriately apart (who decides how far apart is appropriate anyway?)  It seems the only way most people have joy over a third baby is if you had two of the same gender and finally have the other.  But around the third baby many people start thinking about how can a family support all these children.  I guess I should be relieved that so many strangers are so concerned with our welfare.  I mean that means they are thinking about us and want what is best for us right?

I remember when I was pregnant with number 3 and while standing in line with some very well behaved toddlers (4 & almost 3) the cashier decides to count my children in a slow taking it all in kind of way and landed on my belly with 3.  When I confirmed they were all mine, he says in that I-know-what-is-best-for-my-voice “I am so sorry.”   I was floored!  This was back before I had any comebacks to this sort of thing.  I mean, I grew up in a family of 5 (Dad, Mom and 3 children.)  How could three children be a large family?  I looked at him, smiled and simply said “I’m NOT.”  I wonder what that cashier would say to us having our 5th?

It seems that even well meaning friends and family, people who do love you and really do want what is best for you, start to question your judgement when you tell them you are letting God plan your family.  Like as a finite person you had any real control over it in the first place.  Yes, you can do things to prevent a baby or even things to get rid of a baby after he or she was created.  And you can try to go to a doctor to increase your chance of having a baby, but ultimately God is the Creator of all things.

I guess it all comes down to what you are centering your thoughts on.  Unless you center them on God and His Word, you are going to start to go the way of the world.  Reminds me of that song by Casting Crowns “Slow Fade”  It really is a slow fade to get off center of God’s will.

If someone counts the dollar signs when they think of adding children into a family, then of course the person will question how anyone can do it.  You can make your self dizzy thinking of all the money parents spend on their children.  There’s school supplies, clothes, diapers, toys, food, college, home to fit your size family, medical bills, not to mention the actual birth!  And don’t even get me started on the inconvenience of caring for a selfish child for 18 plus years!  So much time, sweat and tears invested!  Your time is just not your own.  But that is if your focus is on worldly things or on yourself.  If your focus is on God and His Word, you can remember He promises to take care of all your needs (not wants).

Well with that, I want to focus on some of what God’s Word says about children:

Psalm 127:3-5  Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Proverbs 17:6  Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers.

Psalm 113:9  He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children.  Praise the Lord! 

Psalm 139:13-16  For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret,
and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.