I guess just about everyone is scared to become a parent. I was in my 30’s when I became a mom, and at the time, it was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I was scared of the sacrifices I’d have to make. I worried about the changes in my life. But when I became a mom I found out how much I worried about nothing.
Yes, it takes some self-sacrifice, but the rewards were worth every bit of the anguish. My babies gave me so many little gifts—their smiles, giggles, and cuddles. And even as teenagers, they continually amaze me as they come into their own individuality.
There’s a new trend among young people to give up on parenting. How sad that they are choosing to miss out on the great rewards that come with being a parent. These are my top five reasons I’m glad I became a parent.
1.Leaving a godly legacy. I’ve raised my children to know and serve God. I know I don’t have control over whether or not they will lead godly lives, but the Bible promises that if I will “train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). What I want most in this life is for my children to say about their mother, “She taught us the Truth and lived by it.”
2.Building an army for Christ. The average American household has 2 children or less. The average Muslim has 6. The birth rate in Islam is the reason it continues to grow. As a Christian parent, it makes me happy to know I’m bringing children into this world to spread the Good News and fight the good fight.
3.Learning what it means to give sacrificially. Before I had children, my husband and I were a “double income no kids” couple. That meant we had the time and the money to travel, buy nice clothes, and eat out regularly. I gave up my income to be a stay at home mom. I thought giving up so much would be hard, but I wouldn’t trade all I had for the joy of seeing my babies smile in the morning. The money we gave up was money well-spent.
4.Falling in love again. After I met my spouse, I thought I would never fall in love again. But when I met each of my children for the first time, I had that same giddy feeling. Those precious faces, the sweet kisses, the joy of holding them in my arms, knowing I’m their favorite person in the whole world—there’s nothing like it. Not only did I love them with all my heart, they also gave me love that was unconditional. No matter how much I messed up, no matter how unworthy I felt, my babies always had love to give.
5.A deeper understanding of God’s love for us. As believers, we are all children of our heavenly Father. Having children of my own has given me a greater understanding of God’s love for me. Consider what Jesus says in Luke 11:11-13:
“Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Before I had kids, I had no idea how deep the love of a parent goes. Now, I know how much I love my children, and just the thought that God loves me more than that makes me so gloriously glad that I am His.