I'm sure you've already heard the news: Michelle Duggar is pregnant with her 18th child. Now obviously this is a very unusual thing and that is why it is getting the news coverage, but step back a second.
What's wrong with 18 kids?
They seem happy. They seem healthy. They seem to be doing ok financially. They devote themselves and their family to God. "The success in a family is first off, a love for God, and secondly, treating each other like you want to be treated," Jim Bob Duggar said. "Our goal is for each one of our children to be best friends, and everybody working together to serve each other makes that happen."
Is that the worst thing in the world? Love God and treat others like you want to be treated. Sounds like something Jesus said.
I know, eighteen sounds like a freak show and people talk about how lost the kids get in the mix. But there are more kids than that in every classroom in America and the teachers seem to be able to handle that to some degree. The idea of one teacher with 20 - 30 kids all day doesn't seem so crazy. And what if those students actually loved each other and looked out for each other? What if those students felt a responsibility to the others and considered themselves servants? What if each of those students had been taught to love God and put Him first? Would that class of 18 seem so crazy now? I know, unlike an American classroom, the kids are all different ages. That makes it even better. They all have a role to fill and their responsibilities are clearly laid out. They are not equals in ability. The weaker must be protected by the stronger. Isn't that a cool lesson to teach our kids?
I actually find myself envying this family. Crazy, I know. But here they are - apparently all the kids are friends. The parents get to enjoy eighteen people who bring them indescribable joy. The kids learn early on to be a servant and to help others. It doesn't take long to figure out the world doesn't revolve around them! Is that so bad?
Do I subscribe to the "quiverful" mentality? Have all the kids the Lord will give you? Well, no. Pregnancy is a consequence of certain behavior. I don't believe in jumping off buildings just to prove my faith in God. The world is governed by the laws of science for the most part and I'm not one to go around challenging those laws. Even God - the Everlasting Father - stopped at two. He knew Adam and Eve would keep Him busy!
But still... what amazing little person is not here because I didn't want to go through morning sickness again? Hmmm...
Posts
6 comments:
That was beautiful. I seen them on the today show Friday. And I always envyed Aunt Marilyn's family. She was such a wonderful mom. I was thinking about her, a lot, yesterday. Debbie
P.S. I once told her, I wished she had raised me.
Oh Michelle, this may be my favorite entry in your blog. When I first saw the picture, I thought, "crazy but how wonderful." I envy this family. I applaud this family, I want to be like this family. Even 6 kids that mirrored this family's love for ach other, their friendship.
I too often wonder what more would have been in store for us had we not thought in the moment, but for the long term. We might have a gaggle of joy and love filling our little house over here.
I have been helping Cheryl Schultze out with her kids while they move homes. It has been wonderful having her four and my two together. They know each other so well, like cousins. The older girls do their thing, the younger ones play on the carpet and the boys, they shoot each other and wrestle till they collapse. They get along and it is like music.
Shame on Lenny and I for being so self centered. We are not reaping what we did not sow!
Great post Michelle.
What I want to know, is how do you pay for 18 children?!?! What in the world does that guy do for a living?!
I know someone who is one of 17 children. He is married to my brother's wife's sister. He's in his 20's and is the oldest of the 17. He had a very positive experience growing up. His family is in Missouri and they live on a big farm. I think it would be so fun to be in their house for a family celebration. I do think that it would be near impossible to do this in California though, unless you were incredibly wealthy. Imagine how much it would cost just for housing.
Michelle,
Finally someone who thinks like me! I have been following this family since they came on TV and I have always said I wish I could have that, be part of that, love like that! We have three and my twins are 3 months and I have been saying for about month "I want another baby and everyone thinks I'm crazy! Why because it is hard work, because you can't just do what you want to do, your life is all about someone else???? Well YES thats all I have ever wanted was to be the best wife and mother I could and to have the gifts God has given me is more then I ever dreamed of. So I say to the Duggar family "keep them coming"!
Go duggers! They home school all of them, have no debt and they love the Lord and each other. They are doing a great job raising those kids. How fun! I do think however that for my husbands sake it is exactly why we were lead to adoption and not pregnancy cause if it was up to me I would have just kept them coming! ;) But then on a bad day I think,"hhmmm, better them than me today!"
Post a Comment