The Blessings of the Smallest Ones

“Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it…” Psalm 127:1

If you were too look around today you would find that one of the least encouraged areas of our lives would be the area regarding children. In days past having a large family in America was encouraged. Think about it, in the early days of our country children were an asset, a blessing, an important part of a family. The more you had the more help that you were to have on your farm. The more hands you had available to pitch in and hunt, take care of the youngest ones, cook, clean, feed the animals, tend to the garden etc. Years ago working “outside the home” literally meant just that-working OUTSIDE of your home and not in a location other than your home. It’s much different today though.

Children are oftentimes looked at as burdens, money takers, nuisances. I have four children. Not a large family by any means…at least in my opinion…however I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have heard, “Are all these yours?” I smile and say that they sure are. Without fail the next response is, “You really have your hands full don’t you? “Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them…” Psalm 127:5, I guess I do.

Listen, I’m not trying to be fake here. Sometimes when things have been extra tough I turn my face toward heaven and question why God would give me four children in 8 years. I do, I really do. But the Bible says that unless the Lord is building our house all of our labor is in vain. There are so many options out there today regarding birth control. I’m not judging anyone who does use those methods, that’s not my place, but I am desiring that we all ask ourselves a very important question,  “Who is truly doing our house building?”

Are we giving our trust in this area completely to the God Who created the universe or are we listening more to sinful man? I know that in our day and age it is not always easy having a large family but if that is what the Lord has designed for your family are you fighting that?

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Psalm 127:3

If I were to have a birthday party and had the option of receiving 1 or 2 gifts or 6 or 7 which do you think that I would choose? Which would you choose? It’s not often that you would find someone who would pick less over more. Yet when it comes to children it seems like the world is telling us to choose as few of these rewards that God has for us as possible.

Sad isn’t it?

If we put 100% of our trust in the Lord we need to be willing to accept whatever amount of children that He has planned for us. Some of us may have quite a few others may not. I know a couple who just had their 8th  child and they are going to continue to trust in God and have however many that He desires. I know another dear couple who have 2 children, lost their 3rd to a miscarriage and have been trying for years to have another one. God has not allowed it yet. I know yet another couple who have not been able to get pregnant at all. You see, all three of these families have put their trust completely in the Lord and He has designed different things for each of them. 

The Bible says, “Except the LORD build the house…” friend we need to put our complete faith in Him. He can see the “bigger picture” if you will, He knows about tomorrow. There may be circumstances in your life that make it seem like having another child such a crazy idea. But look at what Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know that thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” He plans for nothing but what will benefit our lives for His honor and glory. Yes, sometimes it is scary to trust, hard to trust but trust in Him we must! The only thing that we have to look forward to if we do not put our trust in Him is this, “…they labour in vain that build it.”

**Today's challenge**

• Take the time to get alone with your Lord today and ask for forgiveness for not trusting Him in this area of your life and then give this part of you over to Him. Ask Him to help you to trust Him completely.
• Pray with your husband about the Lord’s will for your family regarding children. Make this a daily habit.
• Hug each of the gifts that God has already given you.
• Take the time to play with and enjoy them.Rejoice in the fruit of your womb.

A right walk

"I want to use that!" "No, I got here first." "Mommy she won't let me..." Sound familiar to you? In a home with four children we unfortunately hear things of this sort much too often. Daddy and I often look at each other with expressions of hopelessness wondering what in the world to do! We love our children and so desperately want each of them to grow up to love each other and the Lord with all their hearts but getting to that point (at least the point of loving each other) seems hopeless.

I came across the following verses in my Bible reading this morning that helped me to gain a little clearer understanding of this situation. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Ephesians 4:15,16


As a family I believe that God desires for us to be fitly joined together so that we may increase in effectiveness in edifying the "body" or in this case our own family. You see it is so common today to see brothers and sisters tearing into each other and causing problems in the family . It is so common for brothers and sisters to lead such seperate lives that they can't even stand to have the other around for even a little while. This is not what God intened for the family. He intended for the family to love each other and be such a blessing to each other that each individual would cause another family member to desire to live better for Christ. This is not our present reality however.

So where does it begin? How do we get to that point of loving and edifying one another? I believe that it begins way back in Deuteronomy 6:6-9. As parents we are to set the example. We are to first of all live a life pleasing to God. We are to model godly love, tolerance, patience, forgiveness, acceptance. Then we are to teach the Word of God to our children. We are not to do this only during "family devotions" but we are to be doing it constantly, from the time we get up to the time we lay our heads down. But how? Does that mean that we are to walk around with our Bibles all day doing nothing else but sharing it with out children? No, although that might not be a bad idea the work around us would be piling up and that would cause havoc in our lives. But we are, however, to be "speaking" to our children about the Word of God at every opportunity through words or deeds. We are to model by actions! Ever heard the saying, "More is caught than taugh." I belive this to be so true in regards to raising children. We can "talk" about what the Bible says all we want but if our children never "catch" it by watching us live then I believe that this will lead to bitterness and maybe even destroyed lives later on.

You see, it matters not what we desire for our family. It matters how purely we live. My desires and intentions will fall flat if I do not back them up with my lifestyle...the one that my children see. I want my children to love each other more than any other person they have or will meet but it begins with Mom and Dad. It begins with our personal walk with the Lord and our walk as we are inside of our own home.

What are your children seeing today? Are they seeing behavior in you that pulls them closer to Christ or are they seeing behavior in you that pulls them closer to the world? Look at what the Lord promises to those who live right, "And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: (talking about the previous verses in Deuteronomy) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers." Deuteronomy 6:18. We have nothing but blessings to look forward to if we strive to teach our children the statutes of the Lord through words and deeds.

**Today's challenge**

1. Pray and ask the Lord for help in whatever area you might be struggling with in regards to your children. Whether it be patience, lack of Bible study, anger-whatever it is seek the Lord for His help in overcoming these dangerous habits.

2. Seek forgiveness from your children if the Lord is leading in that way. It will change their lives!

3. Determine to work on one area in your family today.

*Thank the Lord for the promises of help and direction today!!*

Psalm 127

Verse 1 – How vain it is and worthless I might add, to try and raise our children, create family times and family outings without the leading of the Lord. How worthless it is to spend time coming up with our own ideas based on our own desires, wants and beliefs. The only thing that will grow a family into “success” is God doing the building.

Lord help me to remember to turn to you for guidance…no, not guidance but for LEADERSHIP!!! Turn my eyes and my heart up toward You so that I will know what you want for my husband and my children!! Keep me close Lord and when I stray remind me and bring me back so that my “house building” is not done in vain!!

Verse 3 – Children are a gift from You! Well, not even a gift, Your Word calls them an heritage. Another way to define heritage according to the Hebrew in Strong’s Conc. is “heirloom”. How carefully we take care of family heirlooms and how priceless they are! Those items are parts of families and treasured for generations.
Lord are you saying here that our children are Your heirlooms, passed on to us to take care of as priceless treasure?! How much better should I be doing then!

Lord help me to keep that precious truth in the forefront of my thoughts!! Help me to remember that these precious little ones, although time consuming and overwhelming at times, are to be taken special care of. They are to be dealt with as the special items that they are! Lord help the words of my mouth to be kind words! Help the looks on my face to be looks of love and patience! Lord I’m begging you to make me a better mother!! Only YOU can do that work in me! I need you to change me!! I don’t want to cause my children to be angry people!! Lord help me!

Psalm 128: 1-3 – Lord help us to not act as if our four children are burdens! Help us to show them that we are glad that You have given us a big family! I don’t want them to grow up not wanting a big family because they saw how negatively we allowed it to affect us!
You tell us in 127:5 that those with a “quiver” full of children will be happy! Lord help us to be happy with what You have so carefully given to us! Help us not to be ashamed as Your Word says but instead to be proud of the wonderful “heirlooms” you have left in our care!! Help us Lord!!!