When I got married my wife was pretty admit that she only
wanted 4 kids and that was it. I have never set a number on how many I want, because
in short, I’ll accept any the Lord feels inclined to bless me with. When my wife was pregnant with our fourth, I
was expecting the classic conversation that occurs when a couple have decided
they are done having kids.
It typically goes something like this:
Wife, “I’m going to have my tubes tied and you’re getting a vasectomy”
Husband, “I’m not sure I want to do that, you know that’s
not reversible.”
Wife, “I went through all that pain giving you kids. The
least you can do is this for me.”
Etc . . .
We never had that discussion. In fact, she told me she felt
like we should have a fifth.
It is normal for people outside of the church to act
surprised when you have more than two kids. Generally the response comes in one
of the following flavors. You’re Crazy. You’re Brave. Or my favorite, “you
still got a long way to catch up with me.”
It doesn’t bother me, but it does bother me when members who
have been told time and again, “the commandment given to Adam and Eve to
multiply and replenish the Earth is still enforce today”, would act so shocked
at not the normal two but at four. As if because much of society have decided
the zero-population growth game, is the “right thing” to do, that if as members
we double that then we are clearly keeping the command of the lord and can go
on about our business. Not to say having only four because that is all the Lord
gave you is of any shame. Even if you never have any there should be no shame. I just don’t know that we have a right to
dictate to God what is best for us or to get in his way.
Now we are pregnant with our fifth and I figured that the
time for the discussion was come. Still, no! In fact, my wife knocked me off my
socks this time. She said she still doesn’t feel like she is done having kids,
but that when she does, she will get her tubes tied, but she doesn’t want me to
get anything done, because she doesn’t know what will end up happening down the
line and if she dies and I get remarried she doesn’t want that to be a
stumbling block.
I love my wife and this is just another example of how much
she loves me. Thank you for being your own person and not following the crowd.
