Walking Therein

What Is Wrong With Girls These Days?

I know that is too far-encompassing a question to adequately cover in a blog-post, but this is sad, sickening and outright WRONG!

I understand we live in this world, in these times... some women must work. Women get jobs and take their babies to daycare, and then they go earn a pittance which usually really does not adequately cover expenses and needs - especially when there are so many other wants out there... and I won't get started on where was the husband or father (no, I don't know if she was married, divorced or single)...

but THIS is wrong:

This Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007 police booking photo, provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Phoenix, shows Ashly Duchene. 22, who was arrested after her 17-month-old son was found dead in her hot, stuffy car following her seven-hour shift as a Hooters waitress in Phoenix. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)

Can you even imagine the poor little baby? I keep thinking of Caleb, who is 2 1/2, crying, sweating, suffering in 100' heat in his car seat. Miserable. And, gasping for air, and all he could get was hot, dry air... suffocating.

Moms, do we not understand how important it is to create a love and a treasure in our daughters' hearts for these beautiful little blessings? I know they have stinky diapers. I know they spit up ... and throw tantrums and scream when they don't get their ways - so what?

They are treasures. They ARE blessings. Last week we went through a series of comments about Caleb, who can be terribly trying at (many) times during ... an HOUR! He went from being called "Ca-Bug" a few months ago, to being called everything from "Tyrant" to "Destroyer".  I mean, when it takes all of 5 minutes to dump out 2 baskets of laundry, get a bowl of apples down from the counter, spill some water on the floor and go into the bathroom to "miss the toilet", well, you can see he earned those names.

However, as I pointed out in a moment of one - or maybe a few- children going on about his terrorizing antics: He is a Blessing! As a matter of fact, I let him know that fact in no uncertain terms. I told him that He IS a blessing, and he WILL act like it from now on. Period. He will. I will help him, but everyone is done telling him he is not a blessing.

After all, he has lived in this house long enough to pick up enough of all of our bad habits, and though our human bent is towards sin, well, it isn't ALL his problem! A LOT of it is mine and Daddy's and his siblings' habits he is emulating, and the lack of Spiritual Fruit in our own lives. Just more stuff to work on.

And, while I am sticking my neck out here... I'll go a little further, Moms... PLEASE please please just know that it starts before the baby is born. Whether it is yours or a friends, acquaintance's... someone at church or on the street. What do you say about it? Can you imagine all I have heard in my 18 years of having 8 children?

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

It all starts when they find out we are expecting again. I am talking about christian people, not joe-advocate for the 2-child family, here. Here are some of the lovely things I have really heard:

First of all, our pastor told Matt, "Now don't you go getting her pregnant right away, now." Glad he didn't listen. Amanda came along 10months and 16 days later. What a blessing she would have been to miss.

Another 'friend' gave me her condolences after finding out we were expecting Rachel, #3. Then, when we had 'another girl', she laughed at the fact that we didn't even have a boy. Yes, older than I and a Believer for longer. Great mature-in-the-Lord attitude, huh?

I have had men and women ask, "don't you know what causes that?".

"Man, are these all yours?"

"Are you done yet?"

Those are starters, and it continues during the pregnancy from there. Then, I get to hear things like, "Wow, I'll bet you are miserable!" And, "Well, at least you only have a few months left."

Blah Blah Blah. Complain. Complain. Complain. Have I always been happy to be pregnant? Yes. Have I always cherished my actual 'Being pregnant'? No, not always. But, when I actually looked at what I was complaining about and the fact that this time with my dear Little One in my belly, I knew it was a time of Joy, not complaining. God said I am blessed to be expecting, who is anyone to tell me different? Was I always happhappy-joyjoy? Um, NO. But, I learned to not complain and do whatever else to bless my children before they were born.

Can you hear all the complaining and all the hatred and discontent for the pregnancies? Can you see why abortion is such an accepted option? "Oh, I want some drugs... gimme drugs... just knock me out and take the baby out." Yes, and God gave us this process for many reasons. Natural childbirth. We have taken it to such an educated level, we have lost what God gave us as women to emotionally handle our pregnancies, ourbirths and our babies. We have exchanged that and medical benefits to our babies of natural childbirth for our own convenience and comfort.

And, why am I even asking the question, "What is wrong with girls these days?" I guess it should be "What is wrong with us women these days?".

I am sure this mom did not intend to kill her baby. IF she truly did forget, then that is a neglectful heart toward her own child. How can you forget? Maybe she couldn't afford child care that day and thought the baby would be ok. I don't know. All I know is that she didn't think of him for 7 hours. What is wrong with her?

Psalm 127:3

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

People think Matt and I are irresponsible by bearing and raising 8 responsible, well-rounded children, and she had this one, and she killed him. We need to wake up to the attitudes we place or allow into our children's hearts - out of our own mouths, in their friendship circles, on tv, in movies. Wake up Mom. It is your responsibility to train your daughters, not society's, not the public school system's - or the church's. Yours.

blessings! -Jacque

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7:21 PM, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 .. Posted by totustuus

Oh, that just makes me sick. Absolutely sick.

Our culture is totally missing it. They think that money is a blessing and children are a curse. Well, the Bible tells us that money is the root of all kinds of evil and the man whose quiver is full is blessed.

RYC: Thanks so much for your comment. I guess lots of people gave Amanda the same blessing from Numbers and I didn't even realize it. But what better blessing than one straight from God's word??

Now that's one....

11:07 PM, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 .. Posted by trustingdaily

...well-written post. News like this just makes me sick. Like you, I ask what are we teaching our daughters???

~ Angela

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11:10 PM, Wednesday, October 31, 2007 .. Posted by BlogBoy

Hogwash she forgot! Who forgets about dropping their kids at daycare?! I think there was something else happening their or she was on drugs. Who knows.

But I agree, parenting should be a joy not a burden.

RYC: Wait until you see this pictures I took of your barn, they are really neat! I'll be posting them tomorrow. I love fall also. Its so pretty!

Lol, the he-goats had better watch out or Jocelyn is going to be making movies of tying them to the railroad tracks!

Eric

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7:39 AM, Thursday, November 1, 2007 .. Posted by Vicki

I pray I didn't offend you with the comment I made acouple of days/weeks ago, asking if you were looking for a #9!! That was certainly not my intentions, if I did!!!

Many times I have "forgotten" what a blessing the girls are, in the moment of them getting into stuff, or not doing what I asked, but I am really trying to remember that at all times!! We had a small victory last night..I was so proud and happy, and am still thanking God for it!! I asked the girls to do a few things last night, because I was on my way to work, and didn't have time to do it....They did everything I asked, and than they played...I was sooooooo happy!!

God Bless you!!! Thank you for your encouragement to me!!!

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7:26 PM, Thursday, November 1, 2007 .. Posted by TheLordsDaughter

I agree that babies and children ARE a blessing... even when they are a handful. I LOVE to take care of babies, even when their fussy! I hope to one day be a mother of many children, LORD willing.

Love,
Rebekah

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9:12 PM, Thursday, November 1, 2007 .. Posted by moreofhim

Amen!! I live in Arizona and have been hearing a lot about this situation. It's sickening, sad, shocking - just to name a few emotions. It's so true that we must teach our girls and, yes, boys, to cherish children. I wasn't taught that as a girl and had to learn, through God's grace, to love my children and cherish them as they should be cherished. I'm so thankful that He was patient with me and allowed me to grow and mature in this while I was still a young Mom.

God bless you ~ Julie

Vicki~

10:59 PM, Thursday, November 1, 2007 .. Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

You did not in a million years offend me. Not at all! I am not sure if there is a #9 in our future, but God already does. I can't imagine our lives without any of our children, so #9 will be welcome, if there is one!

Glad to hear about the girls. God is faithful and will bless you as you follow His will for you and training your precious little girls!

blessings~
Jacque

Poor baby

1:05 AM, Friday, November 2, 2007 .. Posted by TwoFriends

That poor baby, when I have my own children I would NEVER leave my baby in a car alone at anytime, unless there was a teenager or adult in the car with the windows part way down.

My friend and I just made a blog on here, I have a blog on homesteadblogger (countrygalu). I added you as my friend.

Makayla

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10:29 AM, Friday, November 2, 2007 .. Posted by H0MEFree

This is horrifying.
I know it is like that out there, but I still am not ready to accept it.