My husband and I have always loved these verses about our children being arrows.
Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
We hadn’t even been married five years, and were thrice blessed. We were so thankful to be filling the quiver.
I think we look 18, but were 26.
I loved matchy, matchy back then and the kids were too young to complain.
The beautiful plaid material, 60 inch width, for $1.50 a yard, so I spent less than $5 for the material and sewed the clothes. On a private Christian school teacher’s salary, it seemed like a huge splurge at the time.
I was so determined to wear the outfits for all holiday events, the first time I wore my jumper, it was still unhemmed. Nobody noticed the slightly frayed fabric swinging around my ankles, but the first person I saw, a bachelor, asked if I was pregnant. He was gracious enough to be mortified when he found out I wasn’t.
He assumed –
jumper = pregnant
But, at this time, everyone wore jumpers.
As I meditated on the verses above just now, I realized something for the first time – arrows are not meant to be
kept
in the quiver.
They aren’t decor, they’re tools.
These three children have been shot into the world, and our quiver is no longer as full. After the picture was taken we were blessed with three more children, but most likely all six will never live under the same roof again.
We never would have guessed, 20 years ago, the path the Lord would lead us along, with joys and sorrows multiplied together.
If another 20 years passes, and the Lord hasn’t returned, I know that we’ll still be rejoicing about His blessings to undeserving sinners.
And we’ll be wondering where the time went,
and how our quiver emptied
so
quickly.
It's wonderful to look back and reflect on all the blessings over the years, isn't it? You have a beautiful family! (And I love your matchy matchy outfits.)Blessings, e-Mom @ Chrysalis & Susannah's {Kitchen}P.S. Which private Christian school did your husband teach at? (Our kids went to King's in Shoreline WA.)
I had a dream the first time I took my baby boy to church. I had this flash image of him being one of the young deacons, helping with the daily chores of the church, learning to be a leader…and it brought me to tears. Puddles, actually. I can't imagine what life will be like in 20 years. Mindy, the curly hair thing seems to be very common. After my tumor treatment, I went from stick straight hair to kinky wavy hair.
Yes, Mindy, that sounds just like what Jeff would say!!! Lol. We miss you guys, too!!!
Love that scripture! "You raise them up to let them go" is what my Mum has always said! xxx
Are you saying you got over the matchy matchy thing eventually? How hopeful should I be about this, realistically?
3 kids and 26 is great timing, if I do say so myself. 🙂
Tell Miss HOPE that we DYE Easter eggs, and we COLOR our hair. However, the LORD colored and curled my hair, I have not done a thing to it over the years, except occasionally wash and comb it. 🙂 One of the hidden blessings of thyroid cancer, I guess, when my hair thinned, it grew back different. Always wanted curly hair, now I have it!
Wow I never thought I would be the child to have you two beat- we will only be 24 when baby number 3 comes!! I liked this blog…a good reminder for me not to become too attached because they will leave me someday!!! And to raise them in the Lord so when they leave they are equipped.
This is what being a mom is all about–sending them out trained in the Bible. By the way, Hope leaned over my shoulder and said, "She dyed her hair!" (Smirk)
My children are growing so fast, my oldest is 19 and I know it will soon be time to 'shoot the arrow". You are such a blessing and encouragement to me as this time approaches. You set a lovely example of a godly mother, who loves deeply, but understands God's puupose as a parent.
Children are gift from God!