Think Wisely About Birth Control

Whitney Hopler

Although it's God who creates each child and gives couples the gift of parenthood, too many couples treat children as commodities to be controlled by their own will.

Most American couples strive to have two children because that's what the culture prescribes. But that may not be God's ideal family size for them. Many couples try hard to avoid conception until they decide they're ready for children, and then complain if they can't conceive on demand. But God wants men and women to seek His will with attitudes of humility, reverence, and gratitude.

Here are some ways you can think wisely about birth control:

Adapted from Open Embrace: A Protestant Couple Rethinks Contraception, copyright 2002 by Sam and Bethany Torode. Published by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., www.eerdmans.com, 1-800-253-7521.

Sam and Bethany Torode are freelance writers and graphic designers who live in rural Wisconsin with their son, Gideon. Their essays have appeared in many publications.

How did you and your spouse decide on your family size, or, if you're still deciding, what factors are important to you in the decision process? Why do you think so many people choose to have two children in our culture, rather than more or less? Visit Crosswalk's forums to discuss this topic by clicking on the link below.

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