“I wouldn’t want to be you in a few years.”
“Just wait till they’re all teenagers!!”
“And you only have one bathroom?!”
Such comments are quite familiar to our family now – raising five daughters must in some way induce some sort of bewilderment and often times, disdain, to many commenters. However, I must say, I thank God every day for giving us our beloved daughters. My husband and I do not ‘cringe’ when we think of the teenage years ahead of us …we know the Lord has plans for our girls and we look forward to being a part in their fine tuning. From tea parties to girls’ Bible studies, I know this is not a calling to take lightly.
In a society where having any more children than three is considered ‘crazy’, can I just say – it truly is a blessing to be raising these five, unique daughters.
Our home is filled with noise, music, laughter, piles of pastel colored laundry, fights, giggles and lots of toenail polish.
It is also filled with blessings and joy and excitement for every day. It is filled with sisterhood. And mistakes and “I’m sorry” and hugs and happy tears.
It is filled with parental learning curves and daily habits of a happy home and crochet lessons and violin squeaks and songs plodded out on the piano keys.
… So, when someone cringes and suggests my husband and I will be in some serious trouble when they turn 13, I think ‘But do you not see what an HONOR it is to be raising Daughters of the King?!”
What an incredible responsibility to be held accountable for the development of their moral compass and their spiritual discipleship.
Sadly, this sex-driven society is one that pulls girls out of childhood and into immorality all too quickly and easily … we are fighting against that. I’ve often heard raising godly girls in today’s world is like flying a kite in a hurricane. How true! And we understand we are fighting against the grain, going against the flow and swimming upstream … but this is what God has called us to do. We don’t take this responsibility lightly. But we do find joy in seeing our girls grow and learn about life, God and loving each other.
What a blessing to be chosen to raise daughters!
“We’re not saying that doing that will be easy.
We don’t want to paint any rosy ideal here,
because anyone who has children knows that’s not the case.
We’re saying that through the hard work, the effort, the courage and the faith that are required,
the dependance upon the Lord, the humility, the crying out to Him for grace, with all that is required,
God will shape and mold you as parents.
By God’s grace you will be able to send those arrows forth into this world
to accomplish God’s eternal kingdom purposes.”
-Nancy Leigh DeMoss
P.S. Every day, while cooking dinner or folding laundry, I listen to Revive Our Hearts, a wonderful radio program for Christian women.
If you have time, please listen to this series. It is inspiring!
by Gigi
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