Concerning Christianity

The rumors are true. I have six children. Let me rephrase that. I have six,
beautiful, perfectly healthy, intelligent children. To say that I am blessed
doesn’t nearly encapsulate all that I have been given. The fact that my wife and
I have brought six children into this world with little to no medical
complications is miraculous. The fact that we have even been able to conceive
six times is amazing. And yet, the one reaction that we consistently receive
from those around us is pity. “Oh you poor thing!” “Oh your poor wife!” And my
personal favorite: “Don’t y’all know what causes that?”

The last several
weeks have been emotionally draining for me. I am, by nature, an empathetic
person and tend to carry emotional baggage for the people in my life. There has
lately been much baggage to carry. I have close friends that have lost babies,
are facing the possibility of losing a baby, are facing the possibility of
losing a young child, or have been trying desperately for years to have a child
to no avail. Each night they come home to an empty nursery or find themselves
curled up in a vinyl hospital chair praying that God will somehow
intervene.

I believe that we live in a fallen world. I believe that this
world was created perfect and pure and that  because of our rebellion
against the Creator things have deteriorated to this point. I believe that death
and disease and sickness and heartbreak were not the Creator’s intent. I believe
that there is a battle being waged between good and evil because I see the
evidence of it all around me. It is everywhere I look.

And then I see my
children. I see my six, beautiful, perfectly healthy, intelligent children. For
whatever reason, God has gifted my wife and I with the ability to bring
good things into this world. Each one of my sons stands in defiance of
a world where babies die and people hurt. Their laughter and joy reminds us all
of a purity lost but not forgotten.  I have no doubt that we battle an enemy who
seeks to kill and destroy. I have seen his victories in the lives of those who
matter most to me. Each of my sons is a victory over his wicked agenda.
Each of my sons is a reminder that the Creator of life has not
forgotten us. In a cruel and dark world, they are a beacons of goodness and
light. My children strengthen my hope in the God who promised that he will
return and make all things new again.

And so for the people who
seem so bewildered by the size of our family, for those who are perplexed by our
ever-increasing brood, for those who in word and thought pity us for the
“burden” we have to raise a large family, I would point you to the book of
Psalms chapter 127 verses 3-5.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the
Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are
the children of one’s youth. Blessed is a man who fills his quiver with them! He
shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the
gate.”

My children are a blessing. They are a rich reward that someone
else paid dearly for me to receive. I will cherish them as such and continue to
welcome every blessing God chooses to send my way.