I have five children, that might seem like a lot to you or not. It depends on how big your family was growing up and how big your family is now. I grew up in a family of eight so my family still doesn’t seem that big to me.
Nevertheless five children is still more than twice the US average, which is only 2.09 children per woman and almost four times the Ukrainian average which is only 1.29 children per woman!
The data leads me to one simple conclusion: people don’t know the benefits of large families. If they only knew there would be a lot more children running around. It’s time to change our society’s opinion! I want to be clear, a child is a good thing, and in general more children is a better thing!
I thought it might be helpful just to write our a few of the benefits of having a big family. So here goes!
-
They keep you humble
-
They give you lots of reasons to pray
-
They show you an example of simple trust
-
They give you tax deductions
-
They make life fun
-
They won’t let you get bored
-
They make you less selfish
-
They give you a legacy
-
They help you understand God the Father
-
They teach you to economize
-
They grow up in community
-
They are your health insurance
-
They help you understand sacrificial love
-
They remind you that you’re not perfect
-
They give you a reason to get up in the morning
-
They ask questions that make you think
-
They’ll tell you the brutal truth about yourself
-
They keep you active
-
They turn your family into and instant party
-
They’ll take care of you when you get old
I could go on but now it’s your turn!
Loren Pinilis
January 22, 2013My wife and I currently have two kids, but we’re considering adoption one day in the future. To me, I think the legacy part is huge (your point #8). In sciptures, a man with many kids is depicted as having a full quiver. I never thought much about that image until someone pointed out that we “fire” our kids like arrows out into the world. What a privilege to raise God-fearing, mighty arrows and then launch them out into the world for the sake of Christ. Talk about an important ministry!
Caleb
January 22, 2013Loren that’s a good point. I should have included those verses. So here there are:
Children are a gift from the LORD; a productive womb, the LORD’s reward. As arrows in the hand of a warrior, so also are children born during one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be ashamed as they confront their enemies at the city gate.
(Psa 127:3-5)
Nancy
January 22, 2013They make you a planner and an organizer.
They keep you young.
They cause you to meet a lot more people.
When they are grown they make you a happy grandparent of many grandchildren.
Caleb
January 22, 2013I know have also met a lot of our neighbors as a direct result of our children. Also sometimes when we go on a walk with all the kids we meet people just because it’s so strange to see a family with 5 kids ehre. I knew you would have a few benefits to add to the list. Thanks!
Jessie Gunderson
February 1, 2013They keep you young! Of course that’s sort of like “They are your health insurance” and “They keep you active”. I have been so surprised and delighted by our large family. I’m “growing” into that mother all the time with God’s grace. 🙂
Caleb
February 1, 2013I know that we kept my mom young and she had eight kids! Thanks for stopping by Jessie!
Ngina Otiende
February 6, 2013We are nine in our family. I remember growing up, we didn’t appreciate being so many cos there seemed to be constant struggle and fight for available “resources”. Sometimes we’d nag and complain and say we’ll never have so many kids ourselves – then mum would ask us “so which one amongst you shouldn’t i have had?” That one would shut me up pretty quick (I am last born, nearest candidate for the “not have had” category!).
We are now all grown up now, with many nieces and nephews and we can’t imagine a a different family!
Caleb
February 6, 2013Thanks for sharing Ngina! I think kids in a large family will always have times when they complain about it. I think it’s really funny what your mom said because we have used the same logic with our kids. However, most of the time they love it and even ask if there are any more brothers or sisters coming!
Kristina
February 13, 2013I’ve always loved families with lots of kids. It seems that they’re always happier as a family and also better behaved as kids. This is such a great list, and so encouraging in a world where many people complain about their children. I can’t wait to start having kids so I can add to why having kids is a good thing!
Caleb
February 13, 2013Kristina, it’s true, many people complain about their children and often we are tempted to do the same. Changing our perspective in this regard is helpful because when children feel that they are just a distraction to their parents things don’t go well.
Andy
May 18, 2017I am new to your blog, having found it by way of watching a YouTube video you put up about traveling by train between Odessa and Lviv. All of the comments go back four years on this post,so perhaps it’s a bit late to add to the comments.
Once again you have the right idea. It’s a lot harder to go down the wrong road when following the directions in God’s word. Back when we were dating and starting to get serious my wife asked me whether I had a problem with having at least four children. I was a bit surprised by the question, so I hesitated a moment, but, I said no, I don’t have a problem with having four children if that’s what you want. Then she said, well, that’s the minimum; after that we’ll see. So I said OK and we left it at that. In all we had six children. And while at times it was difficult, God always provided a way to make it all work out. Each child was and is a special blessing in his or her own way.
In the eastern world view people cast their lot to fore-ordained and unchangeable fate, whatever that may be. In the western world view people want to control their destiny: all the ducks have to line up just so and all quack in unison on command. These are the extremes, the polar opposites, and there is a broad range of world views in between. But, they are all wrong, because they are all focused on human perspectives rather than God’s point of view. It is better, as it says in Prov. 3:5-6, to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Caleb
May 18, 2017Thanks for sharing your thoughts Andy! Before we got married I told Christina and wanted at least 4 children and she told me she wanted maximum 4 children, now we have five! So I guess I won!