This is my very favorite blog. (In fact, over the last few months, when my media diet has been very lean, this was the only blog I followed. Randy Bohlender, it’s author, always puts forth such good thought-nuggets to mull over, that it just didn’t feel like reading a blog…and I made an exception. I guess I felt more like I was being challenged and encouraged than the glorified stalking that I sometimes feel the blogging world, facebook and the like can become for me!) I linked to it once before, back in September ’08, right after the Bohlenders had adopted twin baby girls.
Back in November I read this post by Randy and it impacted me greatly. “On having 7″ was written shortly after the Bohlenders had adopted their twins and - get this! - after they had just discovered they were pregnant with #7. The post is excellent, very well written, and thought provoking. It’s quite a long read, but time well spent in my opinion. Here is a little excerpt, which will, hopefully, make you want to read more (either that or you’ll be completely offended):
We have so wholeheartedly bought into the fabled American dream that we are willing to limit our future by limiting the size of our families. We’re trading arrows in our quiver for a third garage stall, our flesh and blood inheritance for a plasma screen tv. Making this choice, we are willingly being short sighted and ultimately, hurting the Gospel’s reach in our area.
I want to reiterate – I’m not arguing that every Christian couple should have a family as large as ours….but I am convinced that more should than presently do…
Then again, I’m just a blogger. Inquire of the Lord, friends, and follow His lead.
(I want to echo Randy’s thought that not every Christian couple should have a large family. I don’t think that at all…at all, at all. I guess, primarily, my thoughts are that large families should be applauded and supported…not puzzled over. )
Anyway, after I read this post, I sent a brief prayer heavenward: Lord, yes! I want to raise many children to know you! I choose more children over my personal comfort. At the time though, I guess I thought that from here on out, our family would be growing through adoption, and not through pregnancy. I guess I was wrong!
But now…on to the subject for which this post is titled, The Zoe Foundation. The Bohlenders have just started The Zoe Foundation (named after their first adopted daughter), an organization aimed at helping families adopt, through education and financial resourses. The little promo video below will give more insight into what it is about and…well, just watch it… it’ll give you goosebumps! The vision that they are setting forth, of the church rising up and adopting the “unwanted,” is just breathtaking… I’m in! How ’bout you?
Vicki
February 26, 2009 at 10:42 am
I never thought that having 3 would cause me to picture actually having more. Or maybe it’s the Lord.
I checked this out last time you posted it and was stirred.
rachel
February 26, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I always wonder why everyone assumes that after 2 kids, every couple is done having babies. I don’t know how many God will give us but we can’t wait to meet them all. (especially the first one in 6 weeks-ish)
Sarah
February 26, 2009 at 2:54 pm
we sooooo want to adopt!! just waiting for God’s timing and provision!
Gracie
February 27, 2009 at 2:02 pm
As I was reading your post, I had the live feed softly playing in the background. I was waiting for the video to load when I heard this song from the singers at IHOP,
I am accepted, I am adopted,
I am accepted in the beloved.
I can feel my spirit…my heart burning within me concerning adoption. What part do I play in this Lord? A mommy? Or is there something else that I can’t see yet? Whatever it is Lord, whatever you have for me, I’M IN!
Thanks for the post Janet!
Darlene
February 28, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Janet: Now that you now about ‘fasting’, as ‘your Elizabeth’, I will fast and pray for you the first week of every month, until our new baby arrives.
You probably never knew this, but Melanie was our surprise. And she has brought us unspeakable joy. Maybe that is why I feel an excitement over this baby. Surprises can be wonderful and charming!
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
This is the first verse I will be praying for you.
Love You!
Janet
March 1, 2009 at 9:07 am
Wow…thank you Aunt Darlene! And no, I never knew that Melanie was a surprise. Again, I can’t imagine a world without Melanie!
Tara Hills
March 4, 2009 at 8:44 pm
‘In order for the church to say it is pro-life it’s got to be pro-child’
Amen and Amen — thank you Janet for posting what you posted and for speaking wisely in an age of calculated insanity.
It’s, like, freaking me out how I thought I was ‘the only one’ (oh Elijah, there was always a remnant…). The only one who read the Bible and thought that God’s first words to mankind were maybe kinda important, key, foundational and unrevoked. That when He just keeps repeating them over and over (from be fruitful and multiply, children are a blessing, a reward from Him ,etc) that it just might be true? That this never-rescinded commandment lines up with His revealed character in so many ways? I thought, Oh man, here we go, we’re gonna be one of “those families” and endure the eye-rolling, patronizing, and ridicule of not only the world, but our church family? But, but, but:
Who am I, who are we, to think that we can judge the ‘right number’ the ‘right time’ the ‘right whatever’? I did…oh God, I hang my head and beg his mercy, I did…because I was afraid, so I hid.
Right after the twins were born we were asked ever so casually if we were ‘done’. Like a timer went off on the oven?! One girl, two boys, above the national (and church) birth average, who would want more? Hmmm…apparently not too many. But is “want” really the issue? What I WANT? Was it ever all about me and my damn wants?! Ok, I’m getting fired up, forgive my fiestyness, some things are worth making a strong stand for and LIFE is one of them. Again, like Randy said “‘In order for the church to say it is pro-life it’s got to be pro-child”. I cheer for God as the church wakes up and sees the “4500 throw-aways” a day (a DAY!!!) and realizes we are to walk the walk not just talk the talk. What a testimony to an unbelieving world and to the fearful in the church! Our actions do speak louder than our words.
Janet, Dave, friends, I thought Gavin and I were totally going over the edge when we chose to truly ‘surrender all’ (fear that led to ungodly control) and let God ‘control’ our family (size, space, you name it). We did a total 180, even cut off some generational garbage to boot, and rather than DREAD my future I now, like the proverbs 31 woman, “laugh at the days to come”. Relief, peace that surpasses understanding and genuine deep down joy are the norm now. I’m not gripping the wheel of my life hoping to God he won’t curse me with any more of his so-called blessings. There’s nothing like agreeing with God’s word and walking it out…mmmm, mmmm, GOOD!
Does it mean we’ll have a super-sized family? As if I can know that. Can anyone? If statistics are God then sure. Fertility is on autopilot and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it. Is that true? Is that’s God’s heart? We’ve really had to face our deep down beliefs to see if they were from God or not. Is it just biology? If I refuse to prevent conception will I be doomed to be a baby machine? Will I hate my life and God? Or maybe, just maybe, the Word is true and He is Good and when He says He will BLESS OBEDIENCE then HE WILL, no matter what that looks like (large , medium, or small quiver, a la psalm 127). So call me crazy, you won’t be the first, but we’re trusting and obeying and it ROCKS!! God BLESS YOU awesome family — we miss you, love you and cheer a huge cheer as you trust and obey (for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to…you finish it:)