The common opinion about children is that they are a headache, a burden, a necessity to have for one’s name and to ensure a future generation, but nevertheless a burden. I cannot think like that. Yes, there are times I get frustrated and stressed with work or discipline issues. But, I have a philosophy or worldview about children that is so different from most people’s attitudes towards having children.

 The Bible states that children are from the Lord, a gift, a reward, a heritage from Him. A heritage is something that belongs to someone and is handed down to someone else to be responsibly handled. When God gave the Israelites His guidelines to live by, He gave a list of rewards of having obeyed Him. One blessing He put great importance on was the blessing of children. When He gave a list of consequences of going against Him, one mentioned over and over again was an infertile womb and miscarriage. I have trusted in God’s Word and have proved Him over and over. Children are a blessing.

How can I enjoy them as such? When they are young, they are cute and helpless. When they are older they can be still more work. I see how they are blessings. They bring out the best in me and show me the worst that is in me. They give me unconditional love – I’ve never received unconditional love from anyone. They are ever ready to forgive. They show my constant moment by moment need for wisdom and grace and strength from God. They show me that I am a sinner. They prove to me that every soul is a sinner as they do not need to be taught to have a selfish nature. Every man seeks his own. When they pray in all simplicity, God answers their prayers. Through them I see God’s heart. As I seek to educate and train them for their futures, I see God leading each one, protecting each one, and teaching me through each one. They disprove contemporary psychologists who assert that children cannot understand God because they can’t think abstractly. They make life ever interesting; one day is never the same as another, and life is challenging and unpredictable. They are with me all the time, but they are also now my closest companions. I can be silly and crazy with them. I can be mature and noble with them. They look on me as the fountain of wisdom.

They are individuals. One of the greatest blessings of all in them is that they are all unique – with a purpose and plan from God for them – to be His and to show His glory to me and my husband as we enjoy them for a few short years. Everything in life that we go through is temporary and transient, but the life of every person is eternal. I often realize that my years with them are barely a few. 18 years goes by very fast. I am 36 now. My life seems to be a blur. My life with my family in India before I got married seems to have gone like the blink of an eye. My children and us cannot be together forever here on earth and their time with me will be short. I will enjoy them as such, relish each one, cherish my memories, and pour my life into theirs. For they are my greatest treasures.