Patients and Patience

This morning was a hectic one, as many are around here.  After getting the girls ready to head out the door, we dropped Ryli and Jaedyn off at school.  Hannah had a doctors appointment at 9am so we headed straight there with all the other girls in tow.  So that means I had Hannah 11, Maggie 5, Naomi 4, Maya 3, Elaina 2 and Hope 4 months, all with me.  When the doctor called Hannah's name, we all filed back into the small little office.  There were toys in the room and the girls were all really well behaved for the most part.  After the appointment was over, the receptionist said "Wow, you have a lot of patience." My response was "that is a learned thing".  That got me thinking.  Patience.  It really is a learned thing.  There are a lot of us that don't have much of it and I am still learning each day.  God uses my children to teach me this, among many other things.  In the bible God commands us to be "fruitful and multiply".  He also states "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 the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."  As Christians we are to keep our eyes on God, and through His word allow Him to change us into His likeness.  I believe that one way that he does this is through our children.  Each of my girls is so different and God teaches me so much through each of them.  It ultimately draws me closer to him.  Now trust me, I blow it a lot when it comes to patience, so I am certainly not perfect.  Not even close.  But by allowing His blessing of children in our lives, we are also inviting His work in us, that might not have otherwise been done.  

  

A care provider and I were once talking about birth control.  My personal belief is that I believe what God says about children, that they are a blessing, and we choose to allow Him to bless us as he sees fit.  She said to me, "Don't you sometimes see people out and about though, that just shouldn't have more kids. You know what I mean?"  I thought about it for a brief time and then responded with, "yeah, I guess so."  She continued with"birth control is good for those people so the children don't have to suffer."  (this is paraphrasing since I can't remember her exact words)  I've thought about this conversation a lot.  I mean a whole lot.  If birth control is good for those people, then isn't that like saying if they end up pregnant that that is a bad thing?  Well, aren't children a blessing?  God says they are.  And isn't God good all the time?  God knows what he is doing, he doesn't make mistakes, we do.  So if I were to say birth control is ok for that "bad" mom, or that "poor" person then wouldn't I be saying God doesn't know what he is doing?  After thinking a lot about this I feel like we should love, love, love these women that some people think "shouldn't have more kids".  Show them who Jesus is.  Show them how much they are adored by their God, because that is the only true way to bring change their lives.  Then if they end up pregnant, God can change them, just has he has been changing me.  This all ties back into the comment of "wow, you have a lot of patience."  God can change us and build our character in many many ways.  Whether we have no children, one or two, or many.  But in my life I have found that one of the best ways  learning from our children.     

Here's a link to some information that I strongly feel all women need to know about birth control.  Did you know it is a carcinogen in the same category as tobacco and asbestos?  

http://www.lifenews.com/2011/10/17/breast-cancer-awareness-month-ignores-pills-link-to-cancer/