This week’s dilemma is from John and Susie, who say they are constantly discussing whether or not to have children.
They’ve been married eight years and emigrated to Australia from South Africa so that they would be able to bring up children in a safe environment.
They always planned to have children four to five years after getting married, but now they are seriously wrestling with whether or not they should.
They’re questioning whether it’s right to bring children into the world when there are already so many children in the world without food and water.
But they’ve been told by family members that they’re being selfish if they don’t, and that they’ll have major regrets if they choose not to have children.
They want to emphasise that they have compassion for people who are struggling to have children and do not want to cause any offence by their dilemma.
What do you think?
Comments (1)
The decision to have children is irrevocable, and it will influence your marriage and your relationship with your spouse, the sharing of household and childcare tasks etc.It will also cost you a lot of money- especially when they go to pre-school: in South Africa 5 full day's preschool with meals will cost you about R2500 per month.(Au$333) In Sydney they print their own money with early childhood care, charging up to $110 per day (that's R825/day!!) and still dictate what you can and can't pack in your child's lunch box.
That's the hard news. The good news is that children will draw you closer together, and bring you incredible joy. Each one has their own little personality and it is such a privilege to
be a steward of this. If you are physically able to have them, when so many can't, don't let guilt over how 'bad' the world is deny you one of God's greatest blessings.
If, however, you are so convicted about 'how many children have no food or water' that you don't want to bring your own child into the world-then what on earth are you doing living in Australia? Go back to South Africa, learn the languages & lay down your lives for them, because its only by living there that you can really make a difference.
Posted by Susanna Mills | July 28, 2008 2:12 PM
Posted on July 28, 2008 14:12