While at the obstetrician’s office, I needed to have my blood drawn last week. The technician was a sweet older lady who was absolutely floored when she asked how many children I had.

It usually goes something like this…

“So, I this your first?”

“No, it’s my ninth.”

Jaw proceeds to drop to floor.

She began to pepper me with questions as she told me she had never met someone with so many children.

I couldn’t help but think, she works at an obstetrics office, and has never met a large family mom before?

It turned out to be a lovely conversation, but at the same time, I was sad when I left. She mentioned how in times past large families were very commonplace, but you really don’t see them much anymore.

What has the acceptance of birth control done to our culture?

Having babies is normal.

If we allow our bodies to behave as God created them to, we will have babies. Usually a lot of them. It is a normal, beautiful, part of life.

But now, large families are seen as an oddity, and couples who opt to take pills, insert foreign objects into their uteruses or arms, or even submit themselves to surgery to break their reproductive system are considered the “norm.”

How has this happened?

Ladies, I fear we have stopped trusting in the Lord, and instead are trusting in ourselves and our limited understanding when it comes to this. I’m not immune to the fear that comes with raising a large family in a small family world. I’m so thankful that the Lord has always provided. He has been faithful.

Related: Resting in My Role as Wife and Mother

When we trust that God knew what He was doing when He created our bodies and that He knows best, most likely, babies will come. It is not like I make a conscious decision to have a baby when I do. My body is simply behaving normally.

On the other hand, a conscious decision is made when we choose to limit our family size instead of trusting the Lord, who opens and closes the womb.

For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 20:18
Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

Genesis 29:31

…but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb. Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.

1 Samuel 1:5-6

The above verses are just a few examples of God opening and closing the womb in Scripture. The Lord knows what’s best, and His hand is present during conception. Having babies is normal. Having babies is beautiful, and surrendering ourselves to this truth is freeing.