Summer Breeze

For the fist time in my life, Australian summer became a subjective truth. It wasn't as bad as I've anticipated it to be (yet), since we've always heard of forest fires and soaring 40 deg temps over down under.

Weather has been terrific since I arrived - breezy, warm and dry. As I arrived in the morning, hunger pangs struck at around 9am local time, and we went for breakfast. I had some very well made Eggs Benedict, and the rest of the day was spent lying on the couch reading or sleeping.

My sis and bro in law has shifted since the last time I came, and their humble abode is really lovely. I spent some time catching up with Casper and with my mum. But of course, the biggest change this time I'm here at Sydney is my status. I've been promoted to an 'uncle', in the very literal sense. It was my first encounter with Matthew, my nephew, and he is such a darling.

This brings me thus to the very real topic of parenting. I don't have much knowledge about it since I've not gone through it myself,
but it's always good to be prepared. Seeing my family reacting to the addition of Matthew set me thinking - it's not an easy job having kids. From the difficulty of one kid, it's hard to imagine our grandparents used to have them in the dozens. There might be some economies of scale, but having just three kids screaming for your attention is no small joke. The reason I mention "three" is because there is a possibility that I might end up with three kids in future.

Now before anyone goes about concluding that I'm lamenting my future situation - I'm not. It's difficult to handle kids, but it's also a blessing from the Lord:

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of warrior are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127: 3-4

I'm more than convinced that having children will inevitably reduce your time and freedom (and money of course); but I'm equally convinced that having godly children is a blessing not just to ourselves, but to those around us as well. It's through divine providence that children are born into the family, and there is no other way than to entrust their lives into the hand of Him who formed us.

Maybe I'm being idealistic. Maybe it's because I have not had terrible experience on parenting. Maybe it's this and that. But if we don't start believing in the Lord and conquering the battle, it will always be an obstacle.