Seeing that next year is an even year, you know what that means… Baby Vanlow Perry 6.0 is in the process of being formed in my womb! A sweet dear friend asked me if we planned it, if I plan on being done or use birth control, and what of my mental and physical health (I have struggled with perinatal mood disorders, liver conditions, debilitating sciatica, etc). I thought I would share with you my response:
Yes, keep having the all the babies as they come. No not using birth control. Yes, It is hard on my mental health and body, but so is being a triathlete, a business owner, trusting God with our finances or waiting on having my dream home built. 😉 I resolved in my mind last year to not let kids or being pregnant keep me from doing what I really want to do in life. I feel this strong conviction in that passage of Romans 12:1-2. God is faithful and continues to expand our territories in every sense with each kid. More patience, love, finances, ideas, resources, connections, opportunity for growth, etc. Having surrendered that area of my life to God has brought so much peace and I have felt like I rely more on Him and am closer to Him once I let go of my expectations and own strength. After my last baby, I just knew ‘this won’t stop until God closes my womb’. I am so blessed with family. My sister, close friends, and clients struggle with infertility and/or miscarriages and that has not happened to me, yet. I know He has blessed me in a special way. I know He is in control and I accept all blessings, even when they are overwhelming. ❤️ I know others may have different convictions or beliefs. Some are called for walking their faith through the mission field or in working with a certain group of people, or living off of 10% of your income and trusting God with the rest. But for me, this is one of my ‘hards’. And lately I have gathered the conviction of not avoiding the hard things. A dear friend’s words resonate for me as she wrestled with cancer and finally went on to be with the Lord: God created us to do the hard things, you can do it. -Heather Kinder Francis
Don’t avoid pain, don’t avoid suffering- because that is when God gives you strength. – Book, Suffer Strong
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Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 (Nothing screams going against the pattern of this world, more than having more than the American allotted 1.3 kids. And what better sacrifice than to lay down your life for another to have the chance to live and be a part of the good life planned for them.)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 He is out to bless me. (How awesome will it be having an enormous family in my elderly years, when others will only have one or two kids, who may or may not stick with you in your old age).
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (I get to practice making my mind strong).
Children are a heritage from the Lord , offspring a reward from him.
Psalms 127:3 (Even if pregnancy is hard or toddlers are butt heads at times)
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Matthew 6:27 (Having kids to feed , clothe, and raise really keeps you reliant on Him)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (So, so true for me, when I am exhausted, little sleep, overstimulated, etc. Have to press harder to Him.)
