Through a Different Lens

As I was cancelling my membership at the Y yesterday, the front desk lady asked my reason for cancelling. I explained that with my one year old (sitting on my hip) and another one due in three months (pointing to my large belly), I probably wasn't going to be making it over there for a while. She then implied that I might not have known what I was doing in having two babies so close together and asked if I was okay with my situation. My response (with a smile), "Yes, this was on purpose!" I went on to explain that this is what we are doing right now. She went on to talk about how much of your life you have to give up for your children. And she's right. You do have to sacrifice for your children. But is it really that awful to grow into a more selfless human being who has the opportunity to turn raising children into a rich, full life?

Somewhere along the way, the truth about children got hijacked. While raising children does require patience, love, understanding, self-control, and dedication, it is not meant to be seen as an inconvenience to all that you could have been. That message of children as inconvenience is a lie. That dangling carrot of "all that you could have been" is a tempting one, and I've even felt it dangling in front of me at times; however, my ultimate lens for reality is the Scripture and this is just a little of what it has to say about raising children. God's original design was for married couples to have children (Genesis 1:28). He says children are a reward (Psalm 127:3). He says that young moms are to love their chldren (Titus 2:4-5). I want to see my children through God's lens.

This morning when I read Rachel Jankovic's post, "Motherhood is a Calling," I caught a glimpse into that reality and was challenged and encouraged about the countercultral call of motherhood. This post is a must read for every woman...single or married, with kids or without kids...take five minutes and look at motherhood through a different lens.

(And if you want to read more from this author, I also suggest her other recent post, "Motherhood as a Mission Field," which was also highly encouraging to me.)