“Quiverfull or Birth Control”

“Quiverfull or Birth Control”

I am one of only two children. I always wanted five or six children of my own, as far back as I can remember. But was always told “you don’t know what your saying”, or “you will change you mind when you get older”.

When I met Jason, the youngest of three. He was open to the idea of children, but like most, he thought that three or so children, was about the most any couple should have. After all “houses and cars are built for smaller families”.

We married at the age of twenty four. We lost our first child at three months gestation. It was devastating. As our dreams fell down, we tried to move on. We did get pregnant again soon after and had our first, a son. As we had our second child (a daughter), we were debating on having more or not.

A couple that we are friends with, started talking about this idea, of giving God control and being “Quiverfull”. From the Bible verse Psalm 127.

Psalm 127:3-5

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.

5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

When they visited we had a few good conversations, even if Jason and I thought they lost their minds! They told us about how “the pill” and “other forms of birth control” were nothing more than a form of abortion! We researched this and found this to be true. What else were we to do for birth control? We had been trying for our third baby, but had been looking at birth control options for after that. But the tide was beginning to change as we brought our questions to our pastors, because we were part of the pastoral staff. Surely our pastors could answer our questions. We spent hours talking with them and they couldn’t answer our questions any better than we could. They were not really negative to the idea, but they were probably beginning to wonder about their choice of putting us on staff. But our questions being solidly grounded in the bible, they could not refuse either.

Then we got pregnant with baby number three (another daughter). After she was born at nap time and bed time while I fed her I took advantage of the time and read books. One of those books would change our views on having children altogether. Even though we viewed children as a blessing and that God said be fruitful and multiply we still thought it was our decision. The book was “A Mom Just Like You” by Vikki Farris and Jayme Metzgar. It is mostly a story of their homeschooling journey but in it she expounded on her journey into the quiverfull lifestyle.

The points she made caused me to start thinking maybe God had more for us, and we should submit to Him not peoples’ standards. I asked Jason about having “More” and he was not to open to the idea. Maybe one or two more, but the idea of “giving God complete control” in this area was crazy to him. However he was continually stretched by the Biblical truths and comments I shared from the book I was reading. I was submissive to him and did not push it, but rather prayed that if it was Gods Idea, He would have to change Jason and I’s heart in this area.

With more questions than when we started, our “ship of selfish living was sinking fast”. We decided to pray about it and leave it to God. In this time period God united our hearts on this issue. Giving us the unity only God could give. Together we are unshakable and a solid front to all that would speak against Gods plan whether the attack comes from family, friend or stranger. We are not divided.

When we decided to give God complete control and we had our fourth child (our third daughter) we took much criticism. And with number five on the way, people are more rude than ever, but I am sure it comes from the pain or grief they must live with from not submitting themselves to God completely. We pray for them and are sad that so many harbor the spirit of abortion in their hearts.

We are now committed that only God will be our birth control! He opens and closes the womb. And we have put our full trust in him. Whether we have one more or 10 more. God is more than able to provide for us, his provision is not limited by the number of children you do or don’t have. If he is giving us the blessings we will not refuse them. It still amazes me how our nation is so open to more credit and debt which is a curse, and denies the blessings of God, closing their womb! Or even aborting the gift of God! Thank God for his mercies that were on us before we saw the truth, and let that mercy rest on our nation.