Family Brand: Life!

Last week, I began a series on our Family Brand. It is all about the characteristics, or rather "building stones" our family will set its existence on. Granted, it's Jesus... but in Him there are callings to which He's called us to. And this is the journey to setting down the building blocks for our family...

Family Brand Attribute #1: Life

"Children are a heritage from the LORD, 

   offspring a reward from him. 

 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior 

   are children born in one’s youth. 

Blessed is the man 

   whose quiver is full of them. 

They will not be put to shame 

   when they contend with their opponents in court."

- Psalms 127:3-5

You know, ever since we announced this unexpected pregnancy, my eyes have been opened to the stand (or lack thereof) society takes on behalf of "big" families and children in general.

See, I have two girls and expecting our first boy.  Biologically, we have one of each, plus my covenant (alternative word for "step") daughter. In society's eyes, our family's complete.  So, the common statement I receive (because it's no longer a question) is, "Awe, your second pregnancy... so you have the pair, a girl and the boy... so that's it, right... You're done!"

Um. Wrong.

photo credit

Since our courtship, Caleb and I have discussed baby names, family ideals and many more foundational ideas for our family and our relationship, but the number of children has never come up.  We've toyed with a number here or there, but truthfully not for more than 15 seconds and not in any real way. My number always seems higher than his, but then again, I think the most serious comment I ever got out of him was... "I'm done at eight. If we're still going after the eighth, I'm closing up shop." [enter a funny sorta "haha" laugh here]

Ha. Ha. My husband's such a jokester.

In all reality though, our family will be done when the Lord decides we've had enough children. We don't know what that'll look like. Enough could very well be after Haven Justice makes his arrival late May/early June.  Then again, we could just be getting started.  At the end of the day, our family desires to be one that stands for life, no matter what it looks like. As we seek to establish values that will make up the "brand" of our family, life is at the very top because Jesus is life.  And He is life more abundantly.  He is the one that establishes the home and blesses the womb.  He is the one who breathes life into little children and brings them, as gifts, into this world.  Because He's very careful and very much aware and thoughtful of these little lives, we want to be to.  Whether we allow the Lord to grant to us a quiver-full-plus household by the very fruit of our womb, we will stand for life.  Whether it's by consistently praying for our friends who haven't been able to conceive life due to some unexplained medical reason, our family will stand for life.  Whether it's by making the statement that life begins at conception and any attempt to rid oneself of such life is murder-- we will stand for life. Whether it's by adopting and taking in a child whose parents chose life but are unable to care for them-- our family will choose life.

No matter what the circumstance, no matter the cost, the demand for the sacrifice... Our family will choose life. And by the leading of the Holy Spirit, this is the very first stone of our family's brand.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

- Jesus in John 10:10