I cannot begin to tell you how often we get asked that question. It began when our fourth was born, and has not stopped. Sometimes this question was followed up with, " are you done yet?" As time goes on we have come across some creative answers for these questions, but have never become comfortable with the deeper meaning underlying them. These questions reveal a prevailing attitude that haunts the western world. Having children is an option, a luxury, an inconvenience. This attitude is reaping its effects in Europe where some nations are in population decline. It is the reflection of a culture that is increasingly self absorbed. Not only have we forgotten history, we have dismissed the future. We are wrapped up in our own little world, our own pleasure, our own careers, getting our own slice of the pie. But in so doing we have missed out on one of the greatest joys and purposes a married couple can enjoy--children. They are a gift and a joy. They do not cost us they enrich us. Our children add more to our lives than words can describe. They are ripples in the pond of the human race that will reach ever widening circles, increasing exponentially the meaning and purpose of our own lives. Our children will carry our legacy, each one adding his or her own story and passing it on to their children, impacting further reaches of the world. It is a legacy of faith- faith that does not cut itself off from the world, sending it away to "hell in a hand basket." Rather, it is faith that embraces life, this good earth that God has created and the people of this world whom God so loved that he sent his only Son, Jesus, to die for. God has not abandoned this world, he has embraced it, investing himself in it as a tiny seed, two thousand years ago, in Palestine. That seed has grown, and spread much like the little yeast that works through the whole dough. He himself has been present in his disciples, bringing hope and a future to the lives of all those who accept his gift of salvation.
This is the faith, the hope, the mission that we pass on to our children. Is eight children enough? Are we done yet? What would you say?
2 comments:
I remember, some years ago, when we were expecting our third child that we shocked to overhear comments from our family and friends that, in their opinion, they thought we ought to be rational and bring our fertility to an end through one of us taking steps certain and final steps.
We were shocked and hurt deeply by these whispered comments on many fronts. The obvious intrusion into our private lives was obvious. But perhaps the greater hurt was the presumption that "of course" the rational approach was to only have the perceived "quota" of two children. That these comments were from fellow Christian and family members made it sting worse.
We tried to turn a bad into a good.
We purposed that we would guard our own hearts, forgive and pledge to forever be understanding and supportive of people who were blessed to have many children. We had to intentionally purge our minds of the cultural bias against large families.
God bless you, Father Bob, Mary and the entire Lemmon Tree.
Normally, we get "Madre de dios!" or less printable responses to people finding out that, yes, all of them are ours.
Latin America *used* to be the land of fertility... but no longer. At least not in Venezuela.
Brian
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