As many of you have already found out, we had our third daughter on August 17th. We named her Shiphrah as a testimony to life against the backdrop of our culture of death where abortion, infanticide, and euthansia are exalted.
As I reflect upon our increased parental responsibilites, I have chewed upon something my wife said yesterday. She stated that you really don't know what it means to be totally selfless until you've had children. I would include in that picture anyone who has ever had to sacrifice to the extent that it cost them an enormous amount of their own free time. Taking care of someone who is sick or who is incapacitated falls into that category.
In no way do the above statments negate the incredible sacrifice made by those without children who are still single or who are barren. Rather, what she was getting at is how aware we become of our selfishness by having children. They consume every ounce of energy and every moment of time. Small children must be watched constantly, and they have little or no capacity to take care of themselves.
The parent is left exhausted, yet, when done for the glory of God, patience is developed and selfishness is exposed and sanctified out. Ultimately, it makes one quick to serve and slow to self-absorption. It is hard to see the positive end of such difficulties when you're in the situation and feel entrapped, yet God is working all the while. In the same way, God put Joseph in prison to train him for Viceroy of Egypt! What seems mundane to us is God's was of molding His people for greatness in His kingdom to His eternal glory! Amen!
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