In this world, in this time, our philosophers suffer under the same siege of transcendental naval-gazing as Prince Hamlet. Man delights not them. Far better, they think, to leave the dog-eat-dog systems alone, and abolish Man. They teach: Soak up the sun while it shines, for it is going out. They warn: Do not, at any cost, bring another human into the world; there’s not near enough sunshine to go around as it is, and Man is nothing more than another selfish, consuming beast, who by chance developed a larger cerebrum than he did a thorax.
But, in truth, any mother who has held in her arms the child of her husband knows far better. We know who Man is, and against all logic, in spite of his weakness, his helplessness, and his unending, squalling consumption, we love him. We want him. We move heaven and earth to bear him, feed and clothe him, and bring him the choicest of everything. We do all this instinctively, against the advice of those more learned than we. Why?
Because it was our marriages of love which made him. Children are love incarnate—the solid, eternal stuff of love. Much more than a feeling, love is born and suckles, learns to speak, and abides to bring joy and unending sunshine to her parents. Behold, children are a heritage of the Lord! Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
You love Man because you can’t help yourself. He is the image of the God of Love, and he is loveable. Your daughters and your sons, even with their cries, demands, diapers, and rebellion, are terribly, permanently loveable, and you, their Christian mothers, were given the Spirit of Love when you became one with Christ in your baptisms. It’s in your blood to love them. It’s what you were born to do.
But these basic, maternal instincts aren’t the half of it. This world has turned against itself, and Mankind is set on its own destruction. As ferociously as we love our children, we cannot elevate them in the eyes of the world to anything more than beasts, consumers, voters, or tax write-offs. But Christ is Man, and beloved of the Father. And it is Christ’s Manhood that elevates our precious children in the eyes of God. Man is loveable because Christ is Man. Life is good, because Christ lives. Love is possible, because Christ first loved us. And Eternity is in our grasp, because Christ has risen from the dead and is coming again, and in His Father’s house are many, many rooms. Room enough for every child ever born, and more.
Don’t let them confuse you, sisters. Mother on.
7 comments:
Beautiful! Thanks for the encouragement! (And no matter how difficult the day, I do feel that maternal love when I sneak in and check on them while they are sleeping-- yes, all three crammed in one room=)
I often think of Romans 1:26, God's giving over of people to vile affections and women changing their natural use into that which is unnatural, in terms of childbearing, or rather the despising of it, among other things. It is sad. And shows just one more way that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19).
Thanks for this beautiful post.
Many rooms. Duh.
Other people's children can make me smile. My son brings joy and laughter into my life I never realized was possible.
It's easy to despise from a distance. It's nearly impossible to renounce that which is your own.
Many rooms, yes! Goes along with my out of context thoughts about storing up treasures in Heaven. For where my treasure is...
Thank you for this. Sometimes, I feel weirdly guilty for looking at my children and feeling awe. (Those aren't the horrid moments, obviously.) You said it so well--they are made out of Love. What miracles! I don't feel guilty anymore for basking in Lovely miracles.
Thank you for such awesome clarity and beauty combined. Please, write on.
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