A Quiver Full

The average family size in the US is down to 3.19.  Wow, that's a little crazy to me.  We have a family of 4 that will change in the next 2 months to 5 and again change to a family of 6 when we finally have Caleb.  We will almost double the family average in about 1-2 years. 

The sad thing is, people seem to not agree with this.  They seem to think that we might struggle financially the more children we have.  I disagree.  First of all, I know that God promises that He will take care of the needs.  

"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

  “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Matt. 6:25-32

I know that we will have to be wise about our money, I know that we will not have all the extravagant things that people think they need to have.  But I also know that we do not need very much.  Really...if you took an inventory of everything in your house and everything had to have a label of either need or want.....I really believe the need pile would be pretty small.....if we were honest with ourselves.

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.

But more than the needs aspect of having a bigger family, I am so comforted by  Psalm 127.  We are told that children are a blessing from God....why wouldn't I want to have many blessings?

Children are compared to arrows of a warrior....would a warrior go into battle with 1 or 2 arrows?  Really and truly, I know that God will take care of our needs, I know that God will bless us and the children that we have.

It's sad though, knowing that most likely, from here on out....we might not get the big excitement from others when we announce another one on the way, or the decision to adopt another might be met with skepticism rather than joy.  Maybe even from family members....

That's okay.

We are going to adopt sweet Caleb after we have this little one God has blessed us with.

We just might get pregnant...again....someday

We probably will adopt ....again....someday

If the Lord sees fit to bless us more.