The Blessing of Children is the story of Valerie, the mother of ten children, who sounds like someone who has gained a lot more wisdom than I have–and she’s gained it the hard way, through suffering. Hear what she says about having a large family:

I sometimes hear Christians say that they cannot have children soon or in close succession or in large numbers because it would be hard. And then I wonder where we, the Church, ever came to the conclusion that God has determined rest for us in all ages!

For the Christian life, God uses the metaphors of a soldier, a slave, and an athlete. Is it from these metaphors that we obtained the no-sweat, no-trouble, no-pressure model for Christian living and ethical decision-making? Wherever did we get the idea that discomfort is a sign that we should retreat to the safety of the trenches and not proceed in hope and faith?