Large Family Mothering: Pusillanimous

Large Family Mothering: Pusillanimous: Somehow this word, "pusillanimous" has been part of my thought processes lately. The definition is  "lacking courage and resolution: marked...

A Small Piece of History

My friend shared the following on FB the other day. Interesting.

A small piece of history I bet most of you don't know. (city people you may want to think about a country home & country folk be happy you live where you do)

Quoting Einstein`s nephew, Dr. E.H. Bronner (a chemist who had also been a prisoner of war during WWII) in a letter printed in The Catholic Mirror, Springfield, MA, January 1952:

"It appears that the citizens of Massachusetts are among the 'next' on the agenda of the water poisoners.

"There is a sinister network of subversive agents, Godless 'intellectual' parasites, working in our country today whose ramifications grow more extensive, more successful and more alarming each new year and whose true objective is to demoralize, paralyze and destroy our great Republic--from within if they can, according to their plan--for their own possession.

"The tragic success they have already attained in their long siege to destroy the moral fiber of American life is now one of their most potent footholds towards their own ultimate victory over us.

"Fluoridation of our community water systems can well become their most subtle weapon for our sure physical and mental deterioration. ..

"As a research chemist of established standing, I built within the past 22 years, 3 American chemical plants and licensed 6 of my 53 patents. Based on my years of practical experience in the health-food and chemical field, let me warn: fluoridation of drinking water is criminal insanity, sure national suicide. Don`t do it.

"Even in small quantities, sodium fluoride is a deadly poison to which no effective antidote has been found. Every exterminator knows that it is the most efficient rat-killer. ... Sodium fluoride is entirely different from organic calcium-fluoro-phosphate needed by our bodies and provided by nature, in God`s great providence and love, to build and strengthen our bones and our teeth. This organic calcium-fluoro-phosphate, derived from proper foods, is an edible organic salt, insoluble in water and assimilable by the human body, whereas the non-organic sodium fluoride used in fluoridating water is instant poison to the body and fully water soluble.

The body refuses to assimilate it. "Careful, bonafide laboratory experimentation by conscientious, patriotic research chemists, and actual medical experience, have both revealed that instead of preserving or promoting `dental health,` fluoridated drinking water destroys teeth, before adulthood and after, by the destructive mottling and other pathological conditions it actually causes in them, and also creates many other very grave pathological conditions in the internal organisms of bodies consuming it. How can it be called a "health" plan? What`s behind it?

"That any so-called "doctors" would persuade a civilized nation to add voluntarily a deadly poison to its drinking water systems is unbelievable. It is the height of criminal insanity. "No wonder Hitler and Stalin fully believed and agreed from 1939 to 1941 that, quoting from both Lenin`s Last Will and Hitler`s Mein Kampf:

"America we shall demoralize, divide, and destroy from within." ...

"Are our Civil Defense organizations and agencies awake to the perils of water poisoning by fluoridation? Its use has been recorded in other countries. Sodium fluoride water solutions are the cheapest and most effective rat killers known to chemists: colorless, odorless, tasteless; no antidote, no remedy, no hope: Instant and complete extermination of rats. ...

"Fluoridation of water systems can be slow national suicide, or quick national liquidation. It is criminal insanity--treason!"

Dr. E.H. Bronner, Mfg. Research Chemist, Los Angeles.

http://www.sonic.net/kryptox/history/perkins2.htm

A Letter To America

This is an old post (written in January 2011), but it still rings true. What would Jesus say to the American church if He was to write to us today? Unfortunately, it wouldn't be good.

IF JESUS WERE TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN AMERICA

A Wife's Ten Commandments

A friend posted these on her FB page and I liked them so I wanted to share them here.

1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind; and you shall love your husband as yourself.

2. You shall not make your husband into an idol, but you shall love, honor, respect and submit to him as unto the Lord.

3. You shall not take your husband's name in vain through gossip, slander, criticism, complaint or mockery; but you shall bless him both privately and publicly.

4. You shall work heartily as unto the Lord and as directed by Him and your husband, not by your own ideas of what should be done. You shall not be so busy working, however, that you neglect to get alone with God every day. During this quiet time, you shall pray diligently for your husband. You shall also be willing to put aside work in order to "play" when your husband asks you.

5. You shall honor your mother and father, but you shall not elevate their position or opinions above your husband's.

6. You shall not resent or revile or hate your husband, but you shall grant him grace, forgiveness and mercy.

7. You shall not commit adultery, nor shall you think lustfully toward another man; but you shall thank God for your husband and be pleased with him.

8. You shall not steal from your husband. You shall not steal his marriage by threatening divorce. You shall not steal his wife by leaving him alone all the time. You shall not steal his spiritual leadership by taking control. You shall not steal his time by placing unnecessary demands on him. You shall not steal his joy by complaining or moping. You shall not steal his peace by endless nagging. You shall also not steal glances from other men by wearing provocative clothes and causing them to stumble. This defrauds your husband of an honorable wife, the other man of pure thoughts, and the man's wife of her husband's faithfulness.

9. You shall not lie to your husband, but you shall speak the truth in love. You shall also practice a quiet and gentle spirit.

10. You shall not covet another woman's husband, her children, her friends, her house, her decorating style, her garden, her looks, her wardrobe, her possessions, her talents and gifts, her ministry, or any other thing that is hers; but you shall be content with all God has given to you.

~ Inspired by Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 22:36-40; 1 Peter 3:1-6; Ephesians 4:15, 4:29; 5:22-24, 5:33; Proverbs 31:10-31; Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:16; Proverbs 19:13b; Matthew 5:21-24, 5:27-30; Philippians 4:11, Luke 12:15.~

Books For Sale + more!

I have a long list of books that I need to get rid of because I just don't have the space. Some of these books have been used and enjoyed, but we just don't need them anymore. Some I purchased with the intent of using, but didn't. And others were given to me, but sat on my shelves for a couple of years.

I am not listing prices, because I am hoping people will make offers. You can offer money or if you or local (or can mail it inexpensively enough), I am willing to make trades. Things I'm willing to trade for include (but are not limited to): venison, hormone/antibiotic free beef or chicken, fresh caught fish, farm fresh eggs, garden produce or fruits, bookcases, shelving units, crates (plastic preferred, but wooden will work), beach towels/towels, 3-hole punch, large paper cutter, cloth diapers/training pants, fencing, pex piping, hay, someone willing to butcher chickens or goats . . .If you have something you want to trade that you don't see listed, please ask!

Homeschool Books

Rod & Staff, Stories About God’s People,  Bible Nurture & Reader series 2, book with units 1,2,3; Reading Teacher’s Manual; Phonics Teacher’s Manual—very good used condition, worth $28.80 new SOLD

Rod & Staff, Exploring with God, Bible Nurture & Reader series 4, workbooks for units 1,2,3 and teacher’s manual—like new, worth $17.65 new SOLD

Rod & Staff, God Visits His Chosen Family, Bible 7, workbook & tests—some writing, worth $9.90 new

Rod & Staff, Preschool Readiness Test, 2 tests and 1 teacher’s manual—new, worth $5.50 new

Rod & Staff, God Choose a Family, Bible 5, teacher’s manual, workbook, & tests—some writing on first few pages only, worth $19.15 new

Reader’s Digest, The Story of Mankind, The Birth of Our Planet, Life Before Man, evolution based books, like new

Skill Builders, Multiplication, 3^rd grade, 2^nd half of book SOLD

Houghton Mifflin, The Mathematics Experience, practice workbook, Kindergarten SOLD

Math Review, grade 3, 2^nd half of book SOLD

Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs: Ancient History—like new except for name written on front SOLD

Spectrum, Writing, grade 3—like new SOLD

Spectrum, Writing, grade 6—writing in pencil on the first 2 dozen pages

Spectrum California Test Practice 3—like new

Spectrum California Test Practice 4—like new

Spectrum California Test Practice 6—like new

Facts & Features, stack of newspaper like “articles” on topics such as George Washington, Butterflies, Safety, etc., approx. 20 pages SOLD

Busy Teacher’s Guide: Art Lessons, grades 1-3—like new SOLD

Reading for Content, A: Science, like new except for writing on cover SOLD

Endangered Species, like new except for writing on cover SOLD

McGuffey 6^th Eclectic Reader, first 124 pages printed off the internet and in a new folder

Touch Math: Addition & Subtraction, workbooks & some in a binder SOLD

World Explorer: Geography, teacher’s resources and teacher’s edition SOLD

Manners that Matter, grades 3-8—like new except for a name on cover SOLD

Writing for Competency, 2 books—like new except for one has a name on cover SOLD

Reading & Critical Thinking, Book 1 & Book 2, gently used with some writing in one book SOLD

Fifth Grade in Review: 100 Reproducible Activities, definitely used, but can still make great copies

Great Rescues, Great Disasters, Great Mysteries, 2 copies of Great Disasters—good condition SOLD

Reading for Understanding, Grade 2—like new SOLD

Building Grammar, Grades 3-4, 100+ reproducible activities—used (pages torn on perforation, but in the book)

Using Dollars & Sense—very used SOLD

Skill Drill Math, Grade 5, black line reproducibles—very used SOLD

Explode the Code 2—like new SOLD

Explode the Code 3—like new

Explode the Code 4—like new

Alpha Omega, Bible 7 Lifepacs, units 2-10 (2 copies of each), teacher’s manual—covers worn, but inside great condition, worth $60 new

Weather, A Thematic Unit—like new except for writing on cover SOLD

Voices of American History, Colonial America: A New World, Grades 4-8, book & 1 CD—pages falling out of book, but still in good condition

Liberty Mathematics Level K teachers manual—some writing on cover SOLD

Christian Liberty Preschool teacher’s guide—like new

Modern Curriculum Press B, Teacher’s guide—very good condition, worth $30 new

Easy Grammar, Grade 3—like new SOLD

Misc. Books

Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler—gently used

Messie Free by Sandra Felton—like new

The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw—like new

Don’t Panic, Dinner’s in the Freezer, by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell, and Bonnie Garcia—very good condition

Encyclopedia of Christian Parenting—very good condition

Reader’s Digest, Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things—very good condition

Reader’s Digest, 2001 Cleaning Secret—very good condition

Like Grandma Used to Make cookbook—very good condition

Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis—very good condition

Left Behind by Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins—like new

And Then We Were Women by Dee Brestin—well used

To Train up a Child by Michael & Debi Pearl—very good condition SOLD

Moments Together for Couples by Dennis & Barbara Rainey—good condition

The Bible Promise Book, NIV—used

A Mother’s Guide to Herbal Extracts by Kathy Garber—like new

5-Minute Retreats for Women by Sue Augustine—like new

Just Give Me Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz with CD—like new (except for writing inside front cover)

Pilgrim Progress By John Bunyan—very well used SOLD

Rebel With a Cause by Franklin Graham—very good condition

We are also currently trying to sell two vehicles.

2001 Town & Country: Engine V6, 3.8 Liter 131,xxx miles; Air Conditioning; Air Conditioning, Rear Power Windows; Power Door Locks; Cruise Control; Dual Air Bags; Dual Power Seats;  Leather;
7-Passenger Seating; Privacy Glass; Roof Rack; Transmission-Automatic; Traction Control;  ABS (4-Wheel); Power Steering;  Tilt Wheel;  AM/FM Stereo;  Cassette,  CD (Multi Disc),  Premium Sound;  Power Sliding Doors and gate--asking $4800 OBO

1998 Ford Ranger Extended Cab: Great running daily driven truck. 3.0L V6 gets 20MPG 4 speed auto shifts perfect. 234000 miles mechanically solid Body is in good shape for the miles. There is some surface rust by the rear mud flaps and a small spot on the passenger side door. The DS front fender is dented but not rusted, and the AC condencer needs replaced. 15" Tires have only 3500 miles on them. New rear shocks.--$2695 OBO

Can You Handle the Truth?

I read a very honest article about abortion which wondered where Christians were in the fight against it. I highly encourage you to read it. You may not like the truths stated, you may have your eyes opened to some truths, or you may be like me and be encouraged to do even more in the stand against abortion.

We Can't Handle the Truth About Abortion

Lilla Rose's Flexi-Clip Review & Giveaway!

The girls and I have discovered an amazing product that we just absolutely love!

The Flexi-Clip by Lilla Rose!

French Twist with small Flexi

We were sent a flexi-clip to review by a good on-line friend of mine, Jasmine Bass of Like a Mustard Seed. She became a Lilla Roseconsultant in order to raise money for her adoption. Jasmine is a wonderful woman who has a heart of gold. Add that on top of my love of wanting to help wonderful couples enlarge their family by creating a forever home for a child and I just knew I had to help.

French twist with medium Flexi

The girls and I were ecstatic when the flexi-clip arrived. Of course, since I am Mom, I got to try it out first. Jasmine sent us a small after I watched the sizing video on the Lilla Rose website and saying that a small seemed like it would be the most versatile for all of us to start with. Watching the sizing video is very important to ensuring you get the size you need because I would have thought I needed a large for my hair. While I can use the large if I do a French Twist with my hair wet, that is the only thing I can use it for and I would have been disappointed if I would have gotten a large to begin with.

Tails up with small Flexi

1/2 up with small Flexi

After receiving the small, I tried using it to do a French twist, but realized I need a medium for that, but I am able to use it to do an tails up (which is my favorite way to use the small!). I can also use it to do a half-up. A medium arrived and I love it for doing a French twist! I have used the mini for taking just a little bit of hair from each side and joining in the back. 

After I tried it, I allowed the girls to use it in age order starting with my oldest. Her hair is just like mine. Her favorite way to wear the small is in a half-up. She can use the medium for a French twist like like I do.

French Twist with bobby pins

My second oldest has much finer and thinner hair than me and likes to use the small for a French twist. Our XS arrived and she uses it for half-ups and up-twists. She has also been successful in using just two of the bobby pins for holding her hair in a French Twist.

French twist with Large Flexi

My third daughter has thicker hair than me and can only use the small flexi-clip for a half-up. She uses the medium for up-twists and enjoys the large for French twists.

My fourth daughter has hair similar to my second daughter, but she even has less hair so while we have been successful once in getting her hair to stay in a French twist with the small, I think the XS works better for her and the mini is great for doing a half-up.

Ponytail with mini Flexi

Even the little girls enjoy the flexi-clips!

French Twist with X-Small Flexi

Lilla Rose has many different styles of flexi-clips in various sizes (mini, XS, S, M, L, and even XL). They also have bobby pins, You pins, Hair sticks, O rings, Hair bands and a few choices of “jewelry”. 

We are looking forward to expanding our flexi-clip collection as there are not enough for everyone to wear one at the same time and that causes conflicts (especially on Sunday mornings when everyone want to wear one!).

1/2 up with Mini Flexi

Now for the great news! You can enter to win a flexi-clip! See below for ways to earn entries, but if you can’t wait  or want more than one, then you can order your own flexi-clips and support a great cause. If you purchase three, you get a fourth free! (To get your free flexi clip, purchase three through the link and then email Jasmine with which one you would like free.) Lilla Rose is also offering free shipping on orders over $20 (if you purchase through my link only)! This is a great time to order! If you order here between now and the 20^th, you will help my girls earn some free flexi-clips for them to share.

You can earn multiple entries to win a free flexi-clip. Giveaway open until August 20, 2012 at midnight. Winner will be announced August 21^st.

Mandatory entry!!!!

• Visit Jasmine’s Lilla Rose website and leave a comment telling us what your favorite piece of hair jewelry is.

Extra entries . . .

 

• Subscribe to or follow Gracious Daughter of the King and leave a comment telling me you do.
• “Like” Gracious Daughter of the King on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you do.
• Share the giveaway on FB or your own blog and leave a comment telling me you did.
• Sign up for Jasmine’s Lilla Rose newsletter through this link: http://eepurl.com/mUjID  and then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did.
• Like Lilla Rose – Jasmine Bass on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did.
• Visit the Basses adoption blog and leave an encouraging comment on their Guestbook and then come back and leave a comment here telling me you did.

Garden Recipes

Garden Soup

2 quarts home canned tomatoes
1 quart water
1 med zuchinni, halved and sliced
1 med yellow squash, halved and sliced
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt & pepper to taste
1 egg
1+ cup flour (I used gluten free)
pinch of salt

Mix first 7 ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Beat egg and then add flour and salt to make a dough (add more flour if needed). Take dough and run through a cheese grater so the "noodles" fall into the pot of boiling soup.

Garden Veggie Pizza

1 cup warm water
1 tbsp evaporated cane juice crystals (sugar)
2 tbsp yeast
4 cups gluten free all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp honey
3 eggs
grapeseed oil
2 cups homemade chevre (could use store bought or even cream cheese)
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup mayo
2 tsp dill
salt & pepper to taste
veggies--diced zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers (red, green, yellow, and/or orange), broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, etc.

Mix warm water, sugar & yeast and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk egg and honey and then add to yeast mixture. Add flour & salt. The dough will be wet.

Pour a little grapeseed oil on two bar pans. Divide dough in half and press dough out onto pans. Bake for 10-12 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let cool.

Mix chevre with garlic, mayo, dill, salt & pepper. Spread onto cooled crusts. Sprinkle on whatever veggies you have from your garden.

Large Family Mothering: How to thrive with many little children...

Large Family Mothering: How to thrive with many little children...: For this post I am trying something a bit different. I received a question from a reader that asked for some help with some challenges she ...

In Christ Alone Mom: PUBLIC SCHOOL: FOOLISH CHOICE

In Christ Alone Mom: PUBLIC SCHOOL: FOOLISH CHOICE: This is a very strong stance against public schools, that is for certain. However, it is my convicted stance and I won't apologize. If you...

Christianity and Modern Medicine

Many people know that we do not prescribe to modern medicine on a regular basis. Sure, if someone had a broken bone, got into a car accident, etc., we would go to the hospital and receive treatment, but for other treatments, we seek natural remedies and natural prevention.

I've often been reluctant to share my feelings because not only do I know many people in the medical field, but I have family members who are doctors, nurses, etc. I am worried that they would feel I was attacking them and their profession when that isn't my intent.

Christianity and the (False) god of Modern Medicine is a blog post I ran across the other day and I thought it was very well written and includes many of my thoughts on modern medicine. The author does a good job of explaining herself and beliefs and has done more research on the topic than I have time to do myself. I suggest taking a look at it.

Sexuality and Modesty

I've been considering writing something on this topic and then I ran across this post at Cultivating Home. I might still write something when I have more time, but I also encourage you to check out Sexuality and Modesty at Cultivating Home.

10 Responses Against "Concern"

My initial response to those with inappropriate "concern" after a miscarriage.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We know that care and concern were your reasons for writing; however, we were hurt by what was written. It may not have been your intention, but it made one of us feel as if you thought of us as ignorant and naive and belittled our faith. If there was any time we needed encouragement, it would be now. Instead we felt attacked and bullied by the "scare" tactics used. The only way scare tactics are going to work is on uneducated, ignorant, naive people.

Some of the following we have said before, but obviously they need to be reiterated. Some of the statements are information meant to educate. The rest of the statements are truly only our business, but since you are showing concern, we will share them with you.

1. We view children--ALL children--as blessings from the Lord. Whether we have children on this earth with us or in heaven waiting for us, they are all blessings. We are happy with how the Lord has blessed us to this point. If our nine girls is all He has for us, we are content. If He has more planned for us, then we will be content with that as well. We are not out to try to have as many children as possible. We are open to all blessings the Lord has for us. "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:3-5

2. We have complete and utter faith that God will provide for us. If He brings us to it, He will bring us through it. He will never give us more than we can handle. "'Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things."' Matthew 6:31-34

3. We believe in allowing our bodies to work as God created them to work. He created a woman's body to "be fruitful and multiply". It is never dangerous to do something within God's will. We do not feel as if Darcy is in any danger and we have peace with what God is doing in our lives. "All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

4. Our sex life is just that--ours. It shouldn't be up for debate with anyone besides Chad, Darcy and God. When comments are made about when we have sex, how often we have sex, or how we should have sex, it is interfering with something that is to remain within the marriage. We don't go around offering "advice" to others on when they should have sex and we expect the same respect for our marriage.

5. Darcy has seen our Naturopathic doctor since discovering she was pregnant to ensure she was taking the supplements she needed. She saw her the day she started spotting and every few days thereafter. Her iron levels were being monitored and taken care of as needed.

6. Darcy did contact a medical professional to see if anything should be done after the miscarriage. She was told that unless she felt ill, the only thing that would be done is to check her iron levels and offer emotional support. Since her iron levels were already being monitored, we declined paying to have the same thing done (we were being wise stewards of our finances). Since your "concern", Darcy spoke with another medical professional who said that a doctor won't do a D&C on a woman who has had a complete miscarriage as she has.

7. Just because a woman has a miscarriage, it does not mean that her body is not capable of carrying a life or that it is a "sign" that she is to stop bearing children. Think of all the families that experienced a miscarriage on their very first pregnancy! What about Michelle Duggar who had a miscarriage after her first child and then went on to bear 18 more children without any problems. Here are some statistics about miscarriage.

• About 15 to 20 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most of them occur in the first 13 weeks, or first trimester.
• For women in their 20s and early 30s, the chance of miscarriage is about 15 percent. At 35 the chance of miscarrying rises to one in four, and at 40 the miscarriage rate is close to one in three.
• Most early pregnancy losses are due to genetics and cannot be prevented. But losing a pregnancy doesn't mean that anything is wrong with a woman's health or that she can't have more children.

8. Just because a woman has a miscarriage, does not mean that "it is absolutely necessary to have a D&C" or she risks infection, get sick or even die.

• [D]octors sometimes offer women a choice of miscarriage treatment. The options are usually to wait for a natural miscarriage, have a D&C, or use medication to bring on the miscarriage bleeding.(emphasis mine)
• 80% to 90% of women with diagnosed miscarriage will miscarry within two to six weeks without complications.
• After a miscarriage, any remaining tissue may be removed by dilation and curettage (D&C). This procedure involves dilating the cervix and gently scraping the tissue from the lining of the uterus. (emphasis mine)

9. Our older girls are NOT raising our younger girls no matter what you may think. Chad and Darcy are the parents and we do not put our children in an authority role (except for Dara who is beginning to learn how to babysit just as I did when I was actually younger than her). Do they help around the house? Sure. It is called training. It is what God has called us as parents to do. We are a family and we act as a family. Christ came to serve, not be served. We are teaching our children the joy of serving others. We don't see how teaching them to be like Christ is a bad thing. "through love serve one another" Galatians 5:13 and "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" Leviticus 19:18.

10. People say, "God gave you common sense." We believe scripture when it says,

• "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, "says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."' Isaiah 55:8-9
• "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12
• "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
• "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?. . . Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. . .But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty . . . that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1: 20, 25, 27, 31

Answer Not

It seems that suffering a miscarriage creates an opportunity for people to voice their opinions on your lifestyle. If they don’t agree with you, then they think it is okay for them to tell you why you miscarried.

I, unfortunately, have experienced this first hand and from people in my own family. While I know they don’t agree with us leaving our family size in God’s hands, I never imagined they would use the death of our babies to attack us. Of course, maybe I just feel attacked because my emotions are so raw, but in either case (intentional or not), I really don’t think it was the best course of action.

I had an email response all set to go, however, my husband wasn’t quite in agreement with some of the wording. I reworded the section that caused him concern, but he still wasn’t sure. The next morning as I was reading my Bible, God led me to Matthew 27:11-14.

Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word so that the governor marveled greatly.

Christ said nothing to His accusers. It didn’t matter what they said. The fact that they were saying it didn’t change the truth. Besides, He didn’t want to change the course of events because that would have been against the Father’s will.

We are here to do the Father’s will just as Christ was. It was after reading this that I remembered Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

I need to hold my peace. I sent an email that instead answered their concern about my health and left it at that.

That being said, I am pretty sure that none of the people who sent their “concerns” reads my blog. If they do, then they will be able to read what I wanted to respond. I want to share here how I initially felt about responding because I not only want to express our views, but also educate others who may not know so they don’t make the same mistake if someone in their life has a miscarriage.

Check back tomorrow to see my initial response.