Children are a Blessing

This article was such an awesome reminder to me this morning.

As I find myself seven weeks away from delivering our fourth baby, I have to be honest. There are days I am scared to have another child. I am nervous and scared because raising children is hard work. It requires all of me, and sometimes I don't feel like I have more to give. I know I am wrong. I know God has blessed us with this fourth child. I know it's His plan, and His timing. He is always on time.

I also know that God will equip me to be all this child needs in a mother. I know, by God's grace, I will be able to mother this child the same as I have, and do with my other three. I know this child is meant to be in our family. I am the only woman designed to be the mother of my children. It's no accident. God has a plan for each one of them, and He has called Jordan and me to be their parents.

I guess I have this feeling of nervousness because this child is coming at a difficult time in my life. It's been a tough year. But God has been so faithful to our family. He has brought us through each day. He has always given me the strength needed to care for my children. I have grown so much over the past eight months, and I may not have grown as much in Lord if it hadn't been for the trial I face each day.

As I have wrestled with the Lord for the past seven months, He has showed me that this baby is a tremendous blessing. He has given us a precious gift at a dark time in my life. This baby has helped to protect my body from continued damaged to my brain and spine. This baby (with each passing month) has given me more energy to play and be with the three who are already with me. This baby has given me something to smile about each day. This baby has strengthened my faith in the Lord. The Lord has been so good to give us this baby.

All these negative feelings I have had have come only from Satan. He is a liar. He is my enemy, and he wants to bring me low. He wants to steal the joys of motherhood, and I can't let him.

I need to find my strength in the Lord. I need to have the full armor of God on each day (Ephesians 6). I need to walk by the Spirit so that we will not carry out our fleshly desires (Galatians 5:16). I know God will equip me to do the things He has called me to do, and being a mother is calling from the Lord.

While it is the work of the Holy Spirit that ultimately draws the hearts of our children to himself, it is still our job to teach and train our children. It is our job to make Christ look appealing to our children. We are their first picture of our loving Heavenly Father.

While we will never be perfect mothers, God has given each of our children to us. He knew the homes they would grow up in. He knew that they need us to be their mothers. God doesn't make mistakes.

So my feelings of nervousness will have to be entrusted to the Lord. I must trust Him each day to be the godly woman, wife, and mother that He has called me to be.