The blessing of children

Recently a news anchor on CNN announced her departure from the show due to her family responsibilities and the time demands of her specific career.

She said that anyone can take her place and the show would go on but no one could take her place as the mother of her children. I later saw a reporter from the same network talk about how expensive and inconvenient it is to have a baby.

There seems to be a difference in how many view the importance and value of children.

The Bible says in Psalm 127:3: "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."

This simple sentence says it all. Children are important. Children are valuable treasures. Therefore, having children is a good thing. Having a child may not make you rich or boost your bottom line but it does bring much joy and fulfillment for the husband and the wife. 

Money should never be a reason to not have children or start a family. It is reported that it cost approximately $250,000 to raise a child from birth to 17 years old. I have 10 children and my youngest is 17.

By those calculations I would have already spent $2.5 million. My earnings for all those years is approximately less than half that amount. How is that possible?  Walmart, thrift stores, garage sales, hand-me-downs, good deals at stores, hunting, fishing, vacationing locally in our own beautiful paradise.

The bottom line is that God took care of us and provided for us in many miraculous ways. 

Ask any of my kids if they wished they had fewer siblings and they would adamantly say, "no." They may not have had the latest gizmos or the best clothes labels on their back but they were raised in the happiest family on earth.

I am so glad we had children despite all the naysayers. The greatest blessing of all is that all 10 of my kids have received Jesus as their savior and love him. I could not ask for any more than that.

So, what are you waiting for? Start a family and I promise you will not regret the gift of children God has waiting for you.

Jerry Favor is pastor of Victory Church, 602 Gun Club Road, Sagle.