How God Sees Children

As a mother of three with a side hustle, I have prepared for motherhood and maternity leave a couple of times. All times were different.

The first time I became a mother, I completely underestimated how a baby would change my life, mentally and physically.

The second time, I had moved countries and was still juggling my side hustle. Balancing different time zones and work commitments meant I couldn’t take my maternity leave as quickly as I would have liked. It was a long process, making sure everything was handed over or taken care of.

By the third time, I had a clearer sense of my priorities, but with two little ones running around already, it was still a challenge to check everything off my list.

Preparing for parenthood is something everyone experiences differently. It’s a personal journey, and that’s especially true if you’re running a business at the same time.

That’s why I've created this plan—to help you prepare for the arrival of a little one. I want to help you avoid underestimating the change. I want to help you get everything on your plate out of the way. And I'd love for you to soak in how precious the miracle of life truly is—because it is!

Children hold such a special place with God. In Luke 18:15-17, we see an example of how Jesus welcomes children and teaches us the importance of approaching Him with the same open-hearted trust and innocence that children have.

Luke 18:15-17
“People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

There’s something to a childlike spirit. To freely run to your Daddy and approach Him with openness, honesty, and perfect trust because you know your Father always has your back. What an example for us when entering into the phase of parenthood (again). We, too, can turn to God this way, knowing that having children is an enormous blessing.

Psalm 127:3
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward."

Can we interpret 'a heritage' as though children are God's first but given to us to inherit? Perhaps that’s exactly how we should see it. We inherit the responsibility of life and taking care of it.

Some translations use the word ‘gift’ instead of heritage.

When you think about it that way, it communicates the same thing but shines a slightly different light on it. God gave us more gifts, like time and money, or talents like writing, accounting, and speaking, to name a few. Gifts are free, but gifts from God come with responsibilities: to steward them right and grow them (think of the parable of the talents). We can do the same thing for our children who have been gifted to us; it's a very practical assignment. Helping our kids mature into God-fearing beings is a beautiful goal.

This verse in Psalm also calls children a reward. It's not 'just another' gift that you receive. God actually views this gift as a reward.

Have we done something to earn it?

I don't think so.

I think it's a matter of speech in this verse. We have been entrusted with it as a stewardship—a responsibility to raise them with love and care. We ought not to take receiving children lightly; they are so valuable to God as a reward would be for any person after accomplishing a massive achievement.

What a thing to know about children. No matter what your pregnancy journey has been like, know this: Your child is a precious gift and a reward from God.

Reflection

What does it mean to you to be trusted with a new life so loved and valued by God?

Action

Take a moment to thank God for the miracle growing inside of you.