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Radio Guest Blogger

Sweeter by the Dozen

Posted on 08.10.12 by a Guest Blogger

This post is written by Marcia Hekman. If you like what you read, you might want to join Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh today on Revive Our Hearts as they talk about Why Your Family Is So Important.

Heckman familyHow amazing it is that we ended up with twelve precious children! We didn’t always want to have a lot of kids.

Randy and I got married a few days after college graduation, and we started our life together at a small apartment in the Washington D.C area. I wanted to have a baby right away, but had to give that desire to God and teach school for a couple of years.

Then came precious Michelle Ann, who always has had a strong desire to do what is right and be a courageous example to her siblings. Renee was born seventeen months later and has cultivated her musical abilities to touch hearts both with her piano playing and songs that she writes. Alicia was our third child, an optimistic leader who inspires many. Gentle and sweet Marianne was born nineteen months later and continues to bless others with her kind and generous heart.

Four children, ages five and under, made for a very busy household. It seemed obvious to us that four children was plenty. One day I told God, “This is enough children,” but added, “If you want us to have another child, change Randy’s heart.” I knew that Randy—a private pilot—had a dream of some day owning a six-passenger airplane. More than four children and we just wouldn’t fit!

Soon after my prayer, Randy started noticing Bible verses, like Psalm 127:3-5, about how children are a blessing. He began to wonder why we gladly accept the blessings of health and money, but turn down children. He became convicted about running this area when we preach and teach that Jesus is to be Lord of every area of life. So we put our childbearing results in God’s hands, Randy fully expecting our wise and merciful God to see what we could see: that we couldn’t afford, nor did we have room in our house or car, for any more children.

A few months later, when I told Randy with a smile that I didn’t feel so good, he envisioned his six-passenger plane taking a graveyard spiral to the ground. But God soon gave him the grace to be happy about the expected new life.

And so sensitive, caring David Randall arrived, and we continued to pray and trust God regarding our family. Then came Suzanne, who is very gifted in serving others; John, an artist, sensitive to others’ needs; Scott, always ready to take action and get a job done; Laurie, with a major desire to mentor teens; Daniel, excited to be in medical school; Angela, honoring her husband in the Air Force; and Nathan, very perceptive and eager to follow God.

These children belong to God, not us. Because they are His, He has miraculously met our needs for food, clothing, shelter, fifteen-passenger vans, and even college tuition! We continue to pray for them and daily trust them to His care. How grateful we are that He changed our hearts and brought them into the world for His Glory. Psalm 138:8 is my prayer for each member of our family: “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” His plans are bigger than ours, but if we are willing to be willing, He will guide our lives!  

Comments

  1. Marcia.....I am smiling as I read your post....it seems that God got our prayers mixed up. I loved the book CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN when I was growing up, so I wanted 12 children. I just knew I would have a wonderful family.
    God had other plans. His plan was for me to be barren. I married a man with 2 children who have lived with us, as has a granddaughter and a greatgrandson....only for periods of time, not permanently. So at times, our home seems like a revolving door.
    I have taught pre-school choir; VBS; etc. I frequently have the privilege of subbing in the "special ed" and other classrooms in our public schools.
    My life has been enriched with children, but none of my own. Yes, there have been tears over the years when a friend was pregnant AGAIN and I remained barren. When I saw happy families out together. Yet, I know without a doubt that God knew what He was doing when he left me free to encourage and minister to other's children as well as to other mothers.
    Thank you for your wonderful post.
    posted by J Adams
    on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 7:02 am
  2. Marcia! Thank you for this post. I found myself last year praying the same prayer: "God, four children seems to be all I can handle, but your word seems to make it clear that children are a blessing. I want to obey you in this area of my life, so if you want us to have another child, change my husband's heart." A few months later my husband did a a 180 and confessed he had not been the spiritual leader in this area of our lives. Feeling a strong conviction to trust the Lord with our child bearing we are now expecting our fifth child in January. This may be the biggest step of faith I've ever taken, but I know that God is good, His gifts are good, His word says children are a blessing, and I can trust Him to provide.

    Four kids may be all I could handle in my own strength, but God does not want me operating out of my own strength. HE is my strength. I'm sure there are trials ahead, but He promises to use them to conform me to the likeness of His Son. As I told my neighbor the other day (when she said, "How will you do it?"), every child makes me more like Jesus as I have to give up more of my selfishness and pour myself out as a servant.

    God continues to encourage me on this journey and reassure me through people just like you, Marcia. Thank you!
    posted by Michelle
    on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 8:29 am
  3. I love this post! When David and I married, we wanted 4 children. Before the 4th C-section in just over 5 years, a friend challenged us to not "close up shop" and see what God would do. We accepted the challenge and God gave us 6 more children! All 10 were born by C-section in 15 1/2 years. Then there were no more. I just didn't get pregnant again even though I had cycles for 8 more years. Now that my children are ages 16-31 and leaving the nest, I wish I could have had more! The house is too quiet most of the time. The good news is that grandchild number 1 is due in November!
    posted by Vicki
    on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 2:32 pm
  4. Thank you for sharing. I never had anyone encourage me to let God decide when our quiver was full. I have sometimes grieved over the children we didn't have, but thank God for the 3 we welcomed. Keep encouraging others in this area. Those children are the hope for the future!
    posted by Sharon
    on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 2:45 pm
  5. I could have written this and replaced my 7 with Marcia's 12 children. My husband & I had no desire for a large family, but after the 1st baby, I was convicted to put this in God's hands and shared that with my husband. It was a huge leap of faith for us, but we stayed true to allowing God to determine our family size.
    posted by LeeAnn
    on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 4:11 pm
  6. Love it! When God impressed this truth in our hearts we already beyond life-bearing years, but hope and pray this will be the case with our next generation. Thanks for sharing!
    posted by Laura
    on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 5:01 pm

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