Comments on: Seeing Through His Eyes, Part 2

By: Trish

Trish — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:55:53 +0000

Our site was down for a good chunk of today…server issues. Then it was connected with some strange site…I’m finally, getting to respond to your responses.

Thank you for the encouragement. I have wondered a big chunk of the day, in my “not trusting God” moments, if maybe we are making a mistake. Then I come and read such encouragement, such conviction…it reminds me that we are not alone in this. He brought each of you. Thank you for taking the time to comment. To encourage, to believe yourselves that God has a heart for children.

Blessings,
Trish

By: mom24

mom24 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:45:13 +0000

I totally understand this post. I am saddened that so many, including those in both sides of my family, do not. Culture is what has pulled so many away from the Truth of the Word. God has made us for His glory and for ‘relationships’! He has given us a family structure which provides those relationships (whether naturally born or adopting or welcoming a widow) as illustrations of His own relationship with us. Why then do we say “No, Lord – it’s not ‘normal’ to have 8 kids or live within my means for the sake of another person added to the family”?
My parents thought we were pushing it to have a 4th child (they are not believers) and my in-laws, although they say they support us, constantly remark about the stress & chaos that it causes. Well, duh! Adding a family member isn’t about making life easy – it’s about God and His will for the family! People always ask me whether we will have more kids and I never know what to say to them because I know that they, with their 1.5 children and tubes tied, would not understand that I really don’t feel I can tell God “No!” as if it is truly my choice. We pray to know His timing and we do have a plan….but we consider it an ‘open’ plan – open for His leading. I have found that the times when I feel like it’s time to ‘be done’ with babies, are the times when I am focusing on my SELF, my stress (usually a consequence of not following Him anyway), my body (”Oh woe is me that I’m tired of pregnancy/nursing” when I’m oh, so blessed to have a womb that works), or my money (as I sigh at the worn look of the kids’ clothing or the size of the grocery bill).
My thought on this post: God is soveriegn, trust in His leading and He will provide what you need, even if you don’t know what you need. Helping the widows/orphans or adding babies is a blessing, not a burden….

By: Kathy

Kathy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:32:13 +0000

I’d add age in there as a “just say no” factor. Are we ever too old? I know of foster parents in their early 70’s who are wonderful and take babies and toddlers! I have seen elderly folks in nursing homes taken to NICU’s and rocking drug babies.

What CAN you do? Most of it boils down to self. Money, time, sacrifice (eating beans and rice, living in a smaller house, buying clothes at the thrift store, accepting help from other believers who are surely blessed by it……), taking two old cars everywhere instead of one nice one, looking a bit different in family make up by size and color, being thought of as “grandma” when you are mommy………….But you are truly right on.

The fact is, that raising children to adulthood for God’s glory and eternal outcomes, is by far worth the above. There is something that we can all do. Many talk, but without action, children still sit there. Many go and spend a few hours a month or fill shoe boxes once a year, but how many actually are willing to make the long term sacrifice and effort to spend years discipling and disciplining and loving an unlovely child to adult hood as a covenant blessing?

Oh well, so sorry for the side ramble there. Here I sit at 3:00 am feeding babies and in major pain in my collar bone area from carrying Ethan around in the sling all evening. Don’t know what I pulled/strained. Anyway, the thoughts just run through my head.

Is it hard? Of course. Many say that they want children, but getting them is hard, so they just talk. Many say that they want to help orphans, but the sacrifices that it takes to make real and serious change in lives, is hardship. None of us want hardship. I don’t either. Sometimes I think we are nuts too. So why should I be at all surprised when someone “normal” thinks that? Ha! -kathy

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:26:52 +0000

This is Wow! Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing your heart. I am right here with you sister. Making the choice to allow God to decide: whether through adoption or biological children is a big leap of faith. But He catches us. Holds us tight. We have four children and I often say…who am I to say no to one of these He has already given. Who am I to say no to one He wants to add.
That we would value life…old and young, ours and theirs, with an open steadfast heart. That we would be willing to live with less…to give more abundantly. To live more abundantly. Learning to live simply and openly before Him.

This is so good.
Thank you for sharing your heart {and soap box}.
Blessings.