A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest
was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final
sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old
turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!”
She could have just as well said, “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Are they all yours?!”
Everywhere you go, people want to talk about your children. Why you
shouldn’t have had them, how you could have prevented them, and why they
would never do what you have done. They want to make sure you know that
you won’t be smiling anymore when they are teenagers. All this at the
grocery store, in line, while your children listen.
A Rock-Bottom Job?
The truth is that years ago, before this generation of mothers was
even born, our society decided where children rank in the list of
important things. When abortion was legalized, we wrote it into law.
Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below
the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body
at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get. In fact, children
rate below your desire to sit around and pick your toes, if that is
what you want to do. Below everything. Children are the last thing you
should ever spend your time doing.
If you grew up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical
perspective on motherhood, to think like a free Christian woman about
your life, your children. How much have we listened to partial truths
and half lies? Do we believe that we want children because there is some
biological urge, or the phantom “baby itch”? Are we really in this
because of cute little clothes and photo opportunities? Is motherhood a
rock-bottom job for those who can’t do more, or those who are satisfied
with drudgery? If so, what were we thinking? Continue at Rachel Jankovic
No comments:
Post a Comment