Choices

We are unique creatures. God has given us the ability to choose. Sometimes we make good choices. Many times we make bad choices. Yes, God is sovereign, but we still have human responsibility and the capacity to make choices. (I know that sounds contrary. Our little, finite minds cannot fully comprehend those principles. But that is what the Bible teaches.)

It is fascinating to me to watch BC learn about his choices and the results of those choices. He has discovered that he loves wires, electrical outlets, and the toilet. Now, my Marvelous Mother wisely told me and my Heroic Husband to say "yes" as often (or more) than we say "no." We try to think of creative ways to let BC know if he is doing something wrong. However, when safety is involved, we say "no."

MM cued me in on an interesting personality trait in BC. He seeks approval. He is a pleaser. This surprised me, because he tends to throw a fit when we tell him not to chew on the computer wires. But as I mulled over what MM said, it rang true. He throws a fit because he senses that we are upset with him. This has helped me to instruct BC in a more constructive way—and he is catching on! For example, when he pulls up on the toilet, I tell him no, in a calm voice. Then, I ask him to come to me. When he crawls to me, I praise him over and over, give him a bear hug, and cover him with kisses. He giggles and smiles so big. He knows that he has made the right choice to let go of the toilet and come to me. Does he do this every time? Unfortunately, no. Even though he is a precious, little baby, he is still a sinful, human being.

Proverbs 22:6

Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

When I think of the word "choice," my mind automatically jumps to the abortion debate. People who are "pro-choice," like to say that "the choice over when and whether to have children is central to a woman's independence and ability to determine her future."

Jeremiah 1:5a

I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.

Ephesians 1:4-6

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.

James 1:18

By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.

Last week, there was a lot of controversy over President Obama's remarks in Rhode Island. "Sometimes, someone, usually Mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result. That's not a choice we want Americans to make."

Albert Mohler, President of Southern Seminary, made the best comments on this issue.

"Taken just at face value, it appears that the President said that we don't, as Americans, want American women to make the choice to stay home with their children. But even if that's not exactly what the President meant to say, his comments in terms of the larger context are if anything equally distressing, because the President here seems to hold out a norm for American women that involves them giving their primary attention at every point of their adult lives to their professional life. And furthermore to have the backdrop of a government support for preschool and day care programs so that they would not have to face any pressure to go home and stay with the children; thus exiting the workforce only later to reenter it with a harm to the wage curve."

"In the President's understanding, what we face is a problem of inequality, and the only way to solve that problem of inequality is to create a government program of expanded preschool and day care so that women would choose that option and not have to leave the workforce—thus eliminating the inequality. But as Mollie Hemingway and many other writers have pointed out, this is an inequality that is actually factored in by these women in terms of their own calculation of what they want, of what they desire, of what they believe is their calling in life."

What women want and desire...

As I thought about this, the "pro-choice vs. pro life," "going back to work vs. staying at home," etc. arguments took a new turn in my mind. What are the two things these issues have in common? Children and women's choices. Women want what they want. They want children, but only on their time table and at their convenience. They want to be equal with men—and men work—thus women want to work.

What a selfish attitude.

What about the CHILDREN? Where do their wants and needs come into play?

When women "are ready," they want to have their own biological children so desperately. We ignore orphans who do not have a mother at all. Women then put their children into someone else's care, so they can go back to their own life. Women work all day, come home exhausted, and want a fun "girls night out." So once again, someone is hired to watch the kids while women "enjoy" themselves.

What about the CHILDREN?

What about the FAMILY?

I am so thankful that my Marvelous Mother "chose" to stayed home with me and my Brave Brother—and
not just until we were old enough for "preschool." First of all, we did not go to preschool. MM taught us everything we needed to know before kindergarten. Secondly, MM stayed home until both us graduated from high school and were in college. Believe it or not, babies are not the only ones who need parents. Elementary children, middle schoolers, and high schoolers NEED their parents.

On an average weekday, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, parents spend less than two hours of their day "caring for and helping household children."

"Primary childcare activities include time spent providing physical care; playing with children; reading to children; assistance with homework; attending children's events; taking care of children's health needs; and dropping off, picking up, and waiting for children. Passive childcare done as a primary activity (such as 'keeping an eye on my son while he swam in the pool') also is included."

On average, parents spend more than double the amount of time they spend with their children doing leisure activities, such as socializing, watching television, participating in sports, exercise, and recreation.

These statistics break my heart.

Albert Mohler went on to say,

"One final note of interesting analysis on this story, it turns out when you look at the media and the blogosphere that the people who seem to be most angry at President Obama for these comments are not men who are saying 'we want our wives to stay at home,' but rather women who say 'the President has trampled on our own free moral choice, our own sense of calling.'"

Women are upset with Obama for trampling THEIR choice.

Why are these choices all about the women?

What about the CHILDREN.

The fact is, we do not really care about children.

In the last few weeks, I have heard multiple news articles about "population control." In fact, Albert Mohler discusses one of these articles in the same podcast.

"And there's something deeply tragic and sad about a movement that says the way to address the problem of the environment is to reduce the number of babies born into it. For far too many millions of people on the secular left, they still believe salvation is found in a pill—most particularly in a birth control pill."

What about the CHILDREN?

Did you know that on average, 100,000 children die of hunger related diseases every week?

Let that statistic sink in for a moment.

While we are concerned about our choices, babies (labeled as "fetuses") are being snuffed out; children are dying of preventable illnesses. While women are focused on "birth control salvation," children are dying without every hearing the name of Jesus Christ—the only salvation that truly matters.

Luke 18:15-17

Some people were even bringing infants to Him so He might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

I have recently been faced with several hard facts. I realized that at times, I tend to act like I care more about exercise and my personal self image than the people whom I love most. While this could not be farther from the truth, my actions sometimes make this claim seem true. What a conviction. I have acted like I am more concerned with MY appearance, MY image, MY personal feelings than my family, friends, and most importantly, my Lord and Savior.

I have also faced the fact that as a selfish human, I am not doing my part in the church—and I do not mean a church congregation. I mean the church of Jesus Christ—as in the bride of Christ—as in worldwide—as in the countless number who are being persecuted (and killed) for their faith. I am not doing my part to uphold the orphans that are tossed aside.

What about the CHILDREN?

How can my CHOICES go to benefit them? How can my CHOICES stop being about ME? How can my CHOICES instead be about HIM and THEM?

John 15:16a

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain..."

I challenge you to watch this video. It is only two minutes long. I challenge you to ask God to show you where your choices are about YOU. I challenge you to change those choices and make them about HIM and THEM.

Romans 8:16-17

The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.