I have especially liked the Psalm from which this site takes its name since I first found out that I was going to be a daddy. I always associate it with Jon Webster; I don’t think that he first pointed it out to me, but he was the first person to quote it to me when I announced my child’s birth and as my quiver has filled it has been a running joke between us.
I don’t agree with everything on this site, but I will continue to present this perspective on childbearing and family size because it is underrepresented in the Church these days. At least, in this country. I don’t want to resurrect any of the vitriolic debates that we’ve had on this subject in the past in this forum; however, I still believe that people need to hear that the birth control mindset is not all there is.
I always associate the “quiverfull” passage with a large family I know. They have five “home-grown” kids, and have adopted at least 20 more. Yes, 25 kids… Many of them are grown, so last time we visited only 11 lived with their parents. =)
Anyway, this passage came up when my family was visiting them a few years ago. We were discussing chores, the purpose of kids, etc (chores are big in a household with no electricity or running water). Kids, like arrows, are useful; they should be trained and cared for, but not just pampered. It’s a very different take than most Americans have.
Joke? Joke!? What “joke”!?
A running reminder of your blessings! That’s what I would call it.