"That is way to many kids anyways."
Stunned to silence. What do you say to a person who has such a negative opinion of how God has choosen to bless your family. Comments like this mornings do tend to come our way quite often, but it never ceases to amaze me from just whom you will hear them. They pop up in the most unexpected places, today at the library we encountered such negativism about our family size, and not from a fellow patron. I was taken off guard.
I could have responded back with a comment of my own, "Well it isn't any of your business" for frankly it isn't. Or a nicer approach, "Thank you for your opinion, but thankfully God doesn't agree with you and has choosen to bless us with these children and will provide all we need to raise them." Instead I said nothing, until I got in the car and called my husband that is. Poor guy, gets to hear it all even when he isn't there.
I wish I could say that when barbs like these come at us, we are immune to them now, but that wouldn't be true. We still fill their sting, even if it doesn't last as long as it once did, and it still makes me angry. Our society doesn't value children or the family anymore, apparently even at the library sometimes. You hear comments about how full your hands are, and glad it is you and not me, everywhere you go. You get the stares, snickers, whispers, and resentful looks that underscore every outing and sometimes their is that misguided soul that thinks they should enlighten you, in front of your children no less, of how the world operates and that you are in violation of the 2.5 kids rule.
It would be easy to become bitter after awhile, to never want to leave the house, but I have made it my mission to do just the opposite. I will constantly seek the Lord for strength, patience, and a bridled tongue when dealing with these individuals who have yet to realize it is God's decision of our family size, not theirs. I will continue to take my children on outings, and yes I will go back to the library next week, see the same lady, and smile real big for I am thankful for my big family.
"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Heb. 12: 15
What a mission field and learning experience that could be for your children! Let them make her some cookies to bring her next week.. smother her with love! I bet she is complimenting you at the end of the summer on how well behaved your children are. I get rude comments too.. and I only have four kids.
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