What a Lie!
Our society today has such a low view of children. I've been appalled to receive comments from people saying they think the government should limit the number of children people are allowed to have. This sinful, selfish view of life is a direct result of humanistic philosophy which permeats our society and begins in the public education system. People are trained to believe that me, myself, and I are number one. The general consensus I've picked up on is that children take so much time, work, and effort and cost so much money, that you should do everything in your power to limit your family size. What a lie!
For one, raising children is the most rewarding vocation anyone could have. It is also the highest and most noble calling you can have in this life -- to train and raise the next generation up for the glory of God! If you do not believe this, I urge you to read the Bible through and notice how a multi-generational vision is the pervading message of Scripture. We are to train our children, so they can train their children, who will in turn train their children, and on and on down the line. Of course, it is a lot of work, but the rewards far, far outwiegh the sacrifices.
Secondly, having a lot of children does not have to cost a lot of money. Where does the Bible say that children need to have a lot of things or that parents have to pay for a college education for their children? This is another myth we've been fed by humanistic teachers. Children don't have to cost a lot of money and God will provide what you need for the family size He's given you. Giving your children love and quality time (and don't tell me that you can't spend time with your children if you have 16 of them -- Think about it: If a mother stays home with her children and the family is home-centered, she'll have plenty of time to spend with her children. She will be with them, spending time with them all day every day. On the other hand, women who are gone all day long and who give up their mothering responsibilities to other care providers and then spend the extra available time shuffling children all over town will be guaranteed to spend a lot less quality time with their children, even if they only have one or two.) and teaching them Scripture is the best gifts you can give to your children-- worth more than anything money can buy.
There are plenty of alternatives to expensive health insurance. (Check out Samaritan Ministries for one such alternative.) You can grow your own food (and when you have a lot of children, you'll have plenty of helpers for your garden!), you can sew your own clothes, you can assign your children to find the best buys on household appliances as part of their school projects.
A couple hundred years ago, the more children you had, the wealthier you were. Why? Because all members of the family contributed to the family. It was a joint-effort. Today, parents are expected to pay for everything, and often to give their children allowance and extra spending money on top of that. Children should be taught from birth that they are not an independent free-for-all smoocher. They are an integral, needed asset to the family. They should be taught responsibility by having to earn their own money to pay for their own things. When they are old enough, they should be required to participate in helping to run the household (cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, fixing things, and so on). I know of five-year-olds who can cook basic meals, clean bathrooms, wash dishes, and do their own laundry.
In our family, once we were old enough to help, we were required to help. It wasn't an option. It was just expected. We learned the value of hard work and that by working together, we could get a lot more done. I think it is almost harder for me to run a household of three with just a baby and no help, than it was for my mom. For years, she never did any cleaning, cooking, ironing, or laundry. Her chief responsibilities were to be a wife, spend quality time teaching us and mothering us, and, as she was able, minister to other women. I'm so grateful that my parents gave us the responsibilities they did from an early age. Sure, I didn't always want to do my chores, but I learned so many valuable life lessons by doing so. My parents were raising us to be responsible adults. And, we got so much more done, working together as a family. We could minister to so many people and do so many things, because we all worked together.
For one, raising children is the most rewarding vocation anyone could have. It is also the highest and most noble calling you can have in this life -- to train and raise the next generation up for the glory of God! If you do not believe this, I urge you to read the Bible through and notice how a multi-generational vision is the pervading message of Scripture. We are to train our children, so they can train their children, who will in turn train their children, and on and on down the line. Of course, it is a lot of work, but the rewards far, far outwiegh the sacrifices.
Secondly, having a lot of children does not have to cost a lot of money. Where does the Bible say that children need to have a lot of things or that parents have to pay for a college education for their children? This is another myth we've been fed by humanistic teachers. Children don't have to cost a lot of money and God will provide what you need for the family size He's given you. Giving your children love and quality time (and don't tell me that you can't spend time with your children if you have 16 of them -- Think about it: If a mother stays home with her children and the family is home-centered, she'll have plenty of time to spend with her children. She will be with them, spending time with them all day every day. On the other hand, women who are gone all day long and who give up their mothering responsibilities to other care providers and then spend the extra available time shuffling children all over town will be guaranteed to spend a lot less quality time with their children, even if they only have one or two.) and teaching them Scripture is the best gifts you can give to your children-- worth more than anything money can buy.
There are plenty of alternatives to expensive health insurance. (Check out Samaritan Ministries for one such alternative.) You can grow your own food (and when you have a lot of children, you'll have plenty of helpers for your garden!), you can sew your own clothes, you can assign your children to find the best buys on household appliances as part of their school projects.
A couple hundred years ago, the more children you had, the wealthier you were. Why? Because all members of the family contributed to the family. It was a joint-effort. Today, parents are expected to pay for everything, and often to give their children allowance and extra spending money on top of that. Children should be taught from birth that they are not an independent free-for-all smoocher. They are an integral, needed asset to the family. They should be taught responsibility by having to earn their own money to pay for their own things. When they are old enough, they should be required to participate in helping to run the household (cooking, cleaning, laundry, ironing, fixing things, and so on). I know of five-year-olds who can cook basic meals, clean bathrooms, wash dishes, and do their own laundry.
In our family, once we were old enough to help, we were required to help. It wasn't an option. It was just expected. We learned the value of hard work and that by working together, we could get a lot more done. I think it is almost harder for me to run a household of three with just a baby and no help, than it was for my mom. For years, she never did any cleaning, cooking, ironing, or laundry. Her chief responsibilities were to be a wife, spend quality time teaching us and mothering us, and, as she was able, minister to other women. I'm so grateful that my parents gave us the responsibilities they did from an early age. Sure, I didn't always want to do my chores, but I learned so many valuable life lessons by doing so. My parents were raising us to be responsible adults. And, we got so much more done, working together as a family. We could minister to so many people and do so many things, because we all worked together.
posted by Crystal Paine at 1:38 PM
9 Comments:
A great deal of that I agree with, which might surprise you.
Minus the idea that helping your children with college is a humanist lie. College savings is a tax-free investment for the future. Providing college assistant for children will allow them to focus on their studies rather than the stress of working full-time to pay tuition.
Also I don't think that Samaritan Ministries sounds like a good idea. For one they aren't insurance at all. It says so on their web site. Also they only help with the diseases they believe in.
Anyway, have 12 children if want. Or have zero. It is really up to the individual families to decide how many children they can have. I in no way think there should be some type of law limiting family size. For my mom’s friend, having 12 children when her husband only works part-time and she is already on an absurd amount government assistant wasn’t being responsible. None the less, it was her choice and her right.
As I am preparing to be a teacher in the public school system, I am appalled at best of your views of school. I am a Christian woman, who has been given the opportunity to bless (in the best ways God has given me), other children who have not been reached by the gospel. I am disgusted at your entry.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Crystal!
I have wanted to chime in on this topic, but my time has been so limited, but you have said everything I have been mulling over in my head all week, and what I have told others for years. You are 100% RIGHT!
Yes! Our life is all about *service*, all about *sacrafice*!!! Isn't that what Christ was all about? Isn't He our example?
Individulisim is such a curse! "Have it YOUR way, be all YOU can be, You DESERVE it today!" That is part of the pack of lies we've been sold.
We have traded our heritage (children) in for things, things that rust, wear out, fade away. None of those things bring peace nor joy. None of them can we take into heaven with us.
My husband's mother came from a family of 8 siblings. A few years ago one of the siblings came down with cancer. It was beautiful how they all shared in her illness, and helped to care for her until she died. They have have one sibling that is a bit mentally slow. She lives with one of the other siblings, and they all see to it she is 'taken care of'. I think this is a beautiful picture of what a family should be.
We've lost sight of love, mercy, family! Oh, to restore the TRUTH to the people, to GOD's people!!!
It's NOT about us, it's about God!
Thank you Crystal!
Kathy
For the future teacher: Please understand that I say this with a great deal of respect for you. You have an immensly important role in today's society, but I have to agree with what Crystal is saying. Maybe it is because of my personal experience in the public school system. It seems as if the central focus in public schools is preparation for college, career, and social advancement. These can all be great but,are these really the most important parts of our lives? Being a mother and wife are not honored anymore. They are frowned upon, I can tell you this based on personal experience. It seems as if the most important and meaningful life skills are missing from the public school system. Shouldn't a women whose goal is to be a loving wife, homemaker, and mother be equally encouraged as woman who desires to be a doctor or say a lawyer? Please understand that I don't look down on independant career women (by any means) I just beleive that women who want to be wives,and mothers should be more respected in the school system and society as a whole. As I said, I greatly respect you, so please don't take any offense to what I said. I just hope that you have the opportunity to teach todays children in a more encouraging and moral way!
I'm so sorry this is long, but I'm very passionate about this subject!
God Bless!~Samantha
AMEN SISTER!!!
Crystal...one more "HOORAH!!!" for you!!!! Oh how I love your thinking and your unwavering devotion to God's Word. I can see now why God has a lot of us dispersed by the miles but close at heart. The world needs to hear the Truth, regardless if they like it or not. :-) People like you and Jesse are so few and far between. What a blessing to us all. Hugs.
If I understand what Crystal is saying she is saying we do not need to have everything handed to us to survive.
I do not really understand the big deal about health insurance, but you know, I have lived in MT most of my life, not many people have health insurance, it is not abusive or wrong. There are ways to get medical care.
My family is not rich enough to provide their children with payment for college education, but they have worked harder to teach their children how to get scholarships, and to work for their education just like many of our presidents did.
Many of our presidents came from large families where they had to work hard to get a education and were without many of the things we consider needed!
I think it is because our goals are different. We are thinking of 2 different things!
I like kids and teenagers, I just don't know if that's my entire vocational goal. I have lots of goals both personal, and family, and I'm just taking things as they come. I'm not following the pattern or expectation of "must do things in this order by this time." When the time is right, I'll cross the bridge.
I can't imagine not encouraging and helping my child to pursue education if that is their choice. Maybe I just need to read through that.
I think everyone has to do what is right for them. Having 2 kids vs 16 kids doesn't make you less of a woman or committed mother, and not being able to stay at home for whatever reason will not make you less of a committed and loving wife.
That is one of the benefits I see of feminism, women were able to infer for themselves, to choose and to exhibit their own spin on choices, and not to be put on a conveyer belt and follow one path and the same speed as everyone else. I'm 23, I'm young. I want to travel, and have some better insight to give my relationship, and my family. I want to be able to give my children the experiences my parents were able to give me, and now is definately not the time.
Sometimes the working through college will really help the child appreciate their education and take it seriously. I can't tell you how many parents I know who pay for their kids college and the kids get wasteful degrees that aren't going to support them. Then they realize their dgrees are useless and ask mom and dad for more money to get a real degree. If I told my parents that I wanted them to pay for an archeology I would have been laughed out of the room. However, they did help me with nursing school which was well worth the money and time.
My husband worked his way thorugh college, so did my dad and my mom. You also don't have to go to an Ivy League school to be successful.
As a homeschooler, I think college is very important for young people and should be encouraged. I don't share the opinion that young men and woman should avoid college. I also think, if at all possible, Christians should have health insurance. I am troubled about how many people don't. My sister is 21 and not a full time student. My father has insisted that she work at the local supermart for twenty hours so that she will be covered if she ever has an accident. I commend him for that.
I don't think a lot of home businesses are good ideas for the primary income. I can't tell you how many people I took care of in the hospital who had accidents but no insurance. I believe God will provide for His own but he also gave us discerment to take care of ourselves. Your local church is not going to be able to cover your hospital bill if you have a serious injury. I understand that some people cannot have health insurance but some are choosing not to in the name of home business. That is my two cents on that.
BTW, I don't think all teachers are evil. I won't send my child to public schools because of the excess garbage he will pick up at such a young age. I really wish that there were more Christian private schools in my area. That is great that the teacher wants to minister to children but I don't think you will have the freedom to share the Gospel with your students. The public school I was in didn't even celebrate Christmas. I don't look down at you for your career move but I will not put my kid in that environment when I have other choices. Don't be disgusted at the entry. We are trying to do the best for our kids.
-Zan
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