CHILDREN ARE A HERITAGE FROM THE LORD

Yes, parenthood changes everything.  But parenthood also changes with each baby.  Here, some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first (author unknown):

YOUR CLOTHES

1st baby:  You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby:  Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

THE BABY’S NAME

1st baby:  You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.

2nd baby: Someone has to name his or her kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right?  It might as well be you.

3rd baby:  You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger points.

PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH

1st baby:  You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don’t bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn’t do a thing.

3rd baby:  You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

THE LAYETTE

1st baby:  You pre-wash your newborn’s clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby’s little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby:  Boys can wear pink, can’t they?

WORRIES

1st baby:   At the first sign of distress – a whimper, a frown – you Pick up the baby.

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to take your firstborn.

3rd baby:  You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

ACTIVITIES

1st baby:  You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby:  You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

GOING OUT

1st baby:  The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby:  You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

AT HOME

1st baby:  You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn’t squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby:  You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Parenthood is quite a challenge.  But it is a blessing from God (though we sometimes have to keep reminding ourselves!).

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.” (Psa. 127:3-5)

Some quivers are larger than others, but there is no more awesome responsibility in all the world than the responsibility to instill within our children a love for God and His Word.  May all of you who are parents be blessed and encouraged as you raise your children in the Lord.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith