Open To Life

Being open to life has always been easy for us. My husband and I have always wanted a house full of children. We have thankfully never had any fertility issues and overall I have had relatively good pregnancies. We have been blessed. Really  blessed with six beautiful children. Saying "yes" to God has been simple. Sometimes exhausting with six children in nine years. But over all simple and easy. No problem.

I love my big family. Even with all of the work and chaos, I love it. I have learned to deal with the looks and comments by others when we go out. The looks that say "Have you lost your mind?" Catching them count my children with their eyes. Or the comments, " Are they ALL yours?" I had one woman ask the "are they all yours" question, and then she looked me in the eye for a very long time and said "Just wait until they are teenagers. Good luck with that!" These comments always baffle me. I really do have sweet children. Overall they are really well behaved when we go out.

When asked the question "Do you want more?" I would answer quietly as to not draw anymore attention. "Well, yes. We are open to life." After the offending commenter leaves I always assure the children that we feel so blessed to have each and every one of them.  And that unfortunately these days, our society does not value children as they should. They have lost site that children are a huge blessing from God and the most wonderful gift in the world! As Blessed Mother Theresa says "How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are to many flowers..."

I have just recently had two very close miscarriages. The first on the night of my beloved mothers memorial mass. and the second on my daughters 9th birthday. My meek, quiet "yes" to God was met with "No, not now." My husband and I are hugely saddened by these losses. We have wept over these babies that we will not get to hold in this lifetime. But I trust He knows best, and my prayer is "Jesus, I trust in You." I truly, truly know now. To the depths of my soul. Children are a HUGE blessing. The greatest gift we could ever hope to receive. We are not in control of life. We can not say when we want that life to happen. Our society would like us to think the opposite. The Author of life, our Almighty and Merciful God determines when. He knows best.

Now when asked the question by others "Do you want more?" I realize I am also answering God. And my meek "well, yes" is replaced with a resounding "YES! Yes, we absolutely want more. They are a gift and the biggest blessing."