knighton

Leah Has Lots of Kids

Feb 12, 2008

My sister has five children! This is one of the many things I adore about her - she celebrates life. Her home is full of laughter and joy, as well as the usual complaints, whines, and tears, that follow children everywhere they go. But she has such blessings times five!

I love visiting her home and spending time amongst my nieces and nephews. They are a delight and pleasure to me, as well as to their parents. There are few other children around whose presence I wish to spend significant amounts of my time. These five beings have the time, attention, and unconditional love of parents who have committed their lives to raising up future leaders. And my sister and brother-in-law are doing a commendable job. As anyone who knows these kids would attest.

Handsome and I are often compared to them, for obvious reasons. We have no children, though we are several years older. We love children and enjoy spending time with them. We are blessed both spiritually and financially. We have the means to provide for several children. But we have none.

Whereas Leah is often posed the question why she has so many children, we are often asked why we don't. To be honest, it wears me down. We don't - because we don't. For lots of reasons. And just like it's rude to criticize one family for having lots of kids, it's rude to criticize another for having none. Unlike many "concerned" friends and family, Leah and her husband have never criticized or judged us. They just love us. And they love us even more because we love their family.

The bottom line truth is that my sister is doing the right thing. In every way.

It bothers me, personally, that other people criticize her family, her lifestyle, her choice. It's the hypocrisy that gets to me. And, I'm a little (ok, a lot) protective of my baby sister.

So sue me.