JOY

This is the final post in my little series on motherhood and is dedicated to the many women in my life who are about to receive children into their homes (Jenny, Jaclyn, Megan, Lorann, Lisa, Sarah, Christina, Lindsay, Laura, Ashley, Malini, Alison, Jayna, Shaelynn, Laurel...). I wanted to end with something that is central to the Bible's teaching on children but is easily forgotten.

Children are a gift! Although they are a gift that requires some work on our parts, God desires that they be a source of great joy in our lives.

As Carolyn Mahaney writes, "What words or images come to your mind when you think about your children? Are you inclined to think: work, responsibility, sacrifice, burden, more work?" Then commenting on Psalm 127, she writes, "Look at the words the psalmist used to describe children: heritage, fruit, reward, arrows. Then he followed with this exclamation: 'Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!' Our speech and actions are shaped by our thoughts. Therefore, we must think Psalm 127 kinds of thoughts about our children."

So, mothers out there, at the same time as we strive to rely on the Lord in the midst of difficult days, let us not forget that our children are gifts. Make every effort to enjoy them to the fullest measure!