Watch out for Children

 10.7.1950

Surprisingly, this comic strip panel took me down some paths that the author probably never intended. Charlie Brown and a friend are standing at a Watch Out for Children sign. They look around the sign bewildered, clearly expecting to see some children (even though they could be the said children the sign is talking about). And then they walk off, saying they didn't expect any children to be coming.

My primordial, deepest thoughts have to deal with the inability to have children and my experience with this, as well as others. The urge to perhaps leave, dejected by who I think is my creator for not having blessed us so far with the children we want. "I don't think any are coming." Obviously, it is always possible, and it is unwise to throw fault on my creator for the different circumstances we are in, because He is not choosing to hinder us from having children. It is just not our time.

Many stories from the Bible point out that being barren is not as uncommon as it is to have children. The earliest example we have is that of Sarah and Abraham. The person from whom all nations of the earth would be blessed. How would ALL NATIONS be blessed, if Abraham was to not have any children of his own. In his old age, he was visited by angels and was told that Sarah would have children, which Sarah laughed at, maybe not in disbelief but in wonderment at the blessing.

Hannah, one of my favorite stories from the Bible was unable to have children. Did she give up? No, she went to the temple. And Eli, the high priest, saw her thinking she was incapacitated, spoke to her and told her she would be granted her wish. In her happiness she dedicated her unborn son's life to the service of the Lord. And thus, Samuel was born, the young boy prophet who served in the temple with Eli and had dealings with David. A great man.

It says that Zacharias and Elizabeth were stricken of years. They were very old, and yet, Zacharias was visited by an Angel, the same Angel to visit Mary, the mother of Jesus soon afterward, and was told that he was to have a son. In unbelief, he said how could this be? He was stricken dumb until his son was born and at John's circumcision Zacharias proclaimed with his mouth that his name was to be John, and that he was to be the forerunner of The Christ. Imagine the happiness Elizabeth felt knowing the sacredness of her son's calling into mortality.

Dear Sir, Dear Life,

What is my role as a man with unborn sons and daughters? Do I walk away from the sign that God has posted of a promise of children present saying, I don't think any are coming? Or do I continue looking with faith to the promise that He has set for me, that both Sarah and I will have children, and they will bless our lives and pass down the family legacy of being a Gonzales?

While I wait, I can make myself a better person. I can choose to live righteously and a good and giving life. I can enjoy the life that God has blessed me with. I can look to the tales in the scriptures of those without children with an Eye single to God's glory, and be faithful, knowing that God will bless me and Sarah with children.

I can prepare myself to be: a father, a leader in the home, the spiritual guide. Always following the words of the Spirit that I receive from constant meditation and pondering.

Life is full of surprises.

Yours,
The Marcie in Me

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Have you ever felt like God has not granted you the deepest desire of your heart? What have you done while you wait for that righteous blessing? How have children blessed your life?

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Stay tuned...

Tomorrow we talk about LOVE between two people and the values that they share in love. What is most important to us when it comes to the people we care about?