Gen 1:28a

Disclaimer: haha, I know I said the series of posts wouldn't be related..except this one =P. So, it would probably make more sense if you read the previous one before you read this one.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it."

I think there are levels to how well children are raised. Most parents do a pretty decent job. There are a few who do a wonderful job. Then there are a lot who don't do a good job at all. My dad has 2 younger brothers. None of them (or their families) are Christians. Each family falls into a different category. (I am not saying this to boast or to condemn. This is part of the observation that led to my conclusion). My parents did a wonderful job raising me. I'm an only child. My dad's second youngest brother falls in the middle. They do an decent job raising their only child, my cousin, Kevin. I have not been around that family very much but from what I've seen (and heard), I hope he can survive in the real world. My dad's youngest brother, my third uncle (the one whom I wrote about in the last entry), falls into the last category (I'm not saying that they're the absolute worst parents in the history of the world. I know things could be worse). They have 2 children and another one coming this year.

Is there something wrong with this picture? The parents who do a decent job raising children only have 1 child while the parents who don't really know how to be parents have (or will have) 3 children (I'm not saying that they can't have 3 children...). My main point is that my parents, in this picture, have failed to follow God's command given in Gen. 1:28a. God commanded us (His children) to be fruitful and multiply. He gives this command 3 times in Genesis. Gen 1:28a, Gen 9:1, Gen 9:7. Each time, it is said that God blessed. So it was a command that was meant to be a blessing. And in Gen 9:7, the verse before (v.6), talks about humans being made in the image of God. Being fruitful is a reflection of God and His characteristic of abundance. So not only is this a blessing but it is for God's glory.
I don't know if Christians necessarily view having children as a blessing and something to do for God's kingdom. It is my firm belief now that another part of how Christians bring glory to God is to raise up a future that is able to bring about God's kingdom. Children born into Christian homes are extremely blessed. They have living testimonies every single day of their lives. I am one of them. My parents' faith and prayers are ~80% of why I have stayed on the path. I owe my life to them...literally and spiritually.
Christians also have God's Word which is wisdom and knowledge. My mom and my grandmother (my mom's mom) both are not very impressive education-wise according to societal standards. However, with the wisdom and grace of God, they knew how to raise children very well. I know countless stories of my grandmother and can remember countless stories of my own mom of how the wisdom and grace of God not only helped them to make decisions and choices for the present but for the future as well. What you feel like you lack in order to raise children well, God abundantly provides.
So no matter how I think about it, having children truly is a blessing on multiple levels and in both ways.

Psalm 127:3 - Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.