The Children I Almost Didn't Have

I’m so glad I listened to the Lord.

I’m grateful that I chose to trust His promises and welcome the children He gave us. In a culture where it has become increasingly rare to hear someone say, “Go ahead—have more children,” the message around us is often the opposite.

Don’t.
You can’t.
You shouldn’t.

But the Lord speaks differently.

Earlier this week we were walking along a path together. Four of my eight children were walking ahead of me, laughing and talking as we went. I paused for a moment and realized something that took my breath away.

If I had made different choices…none of these children would be here.

None of these personalities.
None of these voices.
None of these stories God is writing.

And my heart filled with gratitude.

The Lord says in Psalm 127:3: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.”

A gift.
A reward.

That’s very different from the message our world often sends—that children are mainly a burden or an interruption to our plans.

I didn’t start out as a “mom of many.” (For the record, I have eight children… and Don has eight as well. Yes, that makes sixteen!) I started out as a college-educated, independent woman with a carefully planned future career.

I had my life mapped out.

But the Lord had something better in mind.

He gently interrupted my plans and gave me the desires of my heart before I even understood what those desires truly were. Through the gift of my children, He began reshaping my priorities, my dreams, and even my understanding of what a meaningful life looks like.

God wants to BLESS you with children, they are one of his best gifts. Have you ever told the Lord: 

"Don’t bless me with too much health - how would I handle it all?” 

or 

"

Nope God, that’s plenty of money, I’ve got my hands full!” 

NO way! We ask the Lord to abundantly bless us in so many areas...except by giving us children. 

I’ll be honest—I wrestled with God over this. My thinking had to be completely transformed. But through His Word and the wisdom of godly voices, He began renewing my mind.

And slowly I began to see what He sees.

Children are not a limitation to the life God has for us.

They are one of His greatest blessings.

Looking back now, I see something I couldn’t fully understand at the beginning. I thought I was simply choosing to have children.

But God was doing something much deeper.

I was raising them…

and all along,

He was remaking me.

Blessings,

Renita

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. "

Romans 12:2

Get to Work!

I had my children memorize this poem when they were younger… Now, they are learning to live this poem!  

 

Having your children help you work is a lifetime benefit to them, and to you.  When they were younger, we lived in suburbia, and I had to manufacture “work” for them.  Daily chores, caring for the pets, raking leaves and a small backyard garden were about as strenuous as the work got.  Even those little glimpses of the value of “work” have paid off.  Now, we live on a tree-filled property and the “work” has expanded to include some real bone-tiring tasks.  Having a team is a HUGE blessing, not to mention, all those family memory-making moments we get to experience together, and the satisfaction of seeing a job well done! 

I truly believe God designed us to work, after all, he put Adam and Eve in a garden and gave it to them to tend and provided animals for them to care for.  It’s only after the Fall that work is cursed with “thorns”. 

I believe our children learn valuable life lessons when they get the opportunity to work alongside us.  All that working together also sweetens the playtimes we share together as well.  It’s worth the investment, the lessons learned will stick with them for a lifetime!

It's time to get to work!

Renita

Have Dinner Together Tonight!

 `“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” - Ronald Reagan

Can I ask… how long has it been since your family sat down all together at the dinner table?  I understand, I have been there myself lately… wondering, when did we stop sitting down together at a table set with dishes, silverware, and food served in bowls waiting to be passed around?  

As a young mother, I was inspired to create a “family table” in my home by a dear mentor and my big oak table is my favorite piece of furniture.  But, somehow amid raising all those children, we moved away from that nightly tradition of eating together; to eating at the counter, grabbing something as we walked out the door to an activity or even eating on the go in the van.  When did this happen?  I’m not really sure…. But, I know now is the TIME to “begin again” and re-establish our family dinners!

Can I encourage you?  TONIGHT- even if you’re “not ready”, teach your child how to set the silverware next to your plates (paper plates work…shhh - don’t tell Don), put all the food (even if it’s frozen pizza) on the table and sit down together to share and eat (even if you are on a tight schedule).  I know it’s more work and takes a little more planning and time.  I promise you, it’s worth your investment!  After just a few short weeks, it has become the part of the day we look forward to the most.  You can even do it when you’re not “at home” any table works - just make sure everyone sits down together.

After just a few evenings, we have seen the fruit of gathering again at our table.  This is the place where our children learn how to interact with others, where they learn to listen and to speak, where they learn values of courtesy and hospitality, where they can serve each other, and beautiful family memories are savored together. 

Our family dinner time is precious, don’t let any insecurities keep you from it - have dinner at the table together tonight!

Blessings,

Renita