“Woe to him who smiles not over a cradle, and weeps not over a tomb.
He who has never tried the companionship of a little child,
has carelessly passed by one of the greatest pleasures of life,
as one who passes a rare flower without plucking it or knowing its value.
The gleeful laugh of happy children is the best home music,
and the graceful figures of childhood are the best statuary.
We are all kings and queens in the cradle, and each babe is a new marvel, a new miracle.

-The Royal Path of Life

“You’ll spoil him,” I was told by one of my critiques, as I snuggled my little baby boy into my arms for a rest.  “You hold him too much. He’ll never sleep without you holding him…”

I smiled, pressed my lips to my baby’s downy soft head and inhaled the pure sweetness. If holding my little one in my own arms during the day is spoiling a baby .. then, so be it.

The time with babies is so short – a year of babyhood passes all too quickly, vanishing like a hazy dream as your one year old learns to toddle away on unsteady, chubby feet. Luther — being our ninth baby of the family – is so loved and cherished that we do not need a baby swing, bouncy chair or other items to help entertain and hold him. With eight sibling — six of them being little mommies — he has plenty of love and care offered to him on a minute by minute schedule.

Babies are always a highlight in this family and will always be welcome.

Just today, I heard my 14 year old was rocking her baby brother singing a song about a mother’s empty arms and how a mother needs to cherish the moment with her children, for too soon, they are all grown. As she was singing, she replaced the lyrics with … “when I have no sibling to hold…”

I smiled as I listened to her sweet voice as she rocked her baby brother. How precious to know she felt the same way I did – but as a sister!

“Cherish the moment;
Soon you’ll be apart.
Cling to the mem’ry;
Clasp it to your heart.
Soon comes the day when
you’ll have no {sibling} to hold,
So cherish, cherish the moment…”

Think ahead to a time
When your little ones are grown;
Hold them tight, don’t lose sight
Of the blessings you have known.
Think ahead to a time
When your little boy’s a man
And you’d give anything
Just to hold him again.

Ten years ago, we had thought about stopping at four children, but my heart and arms aches for more children… I did not grow up in a large family nor did my husband. And in fact, we were told by some relatives that having more babies would be detrimental to the rest of the children. When we announced that we were expecting our third baby, and then later, our sixth baby, we were not met with excitement but with disdain.

However, through studying the Scripture, my eyes were opened to see that the Lord, the King of Kings Himself, called children a BLESSING – and I realized what this meant. When God GIVES you a baby, He is giving you a blessing. He is the one who gives the baby to you to raise. What an honour! I was also attending a Bible study through Above Rubies, which helps encourage mothers to embrace the role that God has given them. If you are feeling discouraged in your motherhood role, I would encourage you to read through some of Nancy’s devotions and you will soon feel uplifted. Do not look to the world for encouragement for you will find nothing but emptiness there. Sadly, even in some Christian circles and churches, being a mother and caring for your children is not honoured and is often placed second to a career. Raising a family is all part of God’s plan for the family of God. If you are newly wed, don’t wait to have a baby.  God intended children to come through marriage.

And now,  years later, many of my friends have graduated way beyond the baby years, cumbersome highchairs, napping schedules and potty training. They have more ‘freedom’ with their older children to do outside activities or go on complicated vacations; perhaps now they even have clean and tidy ’empty nests’.  Over here in my little world, my family nest is still very cramped, quite busy, fully alive  — and incredibly sweet.

After 17 years of motherhood, I am still rocking babies to sleep – and I love it.

“Think ahead to a time
When your little boy’s a man
And you’d give anything
Just to hold him again.”