Parenting can come with plenty of unsolicited comments, especially when you're out in public with your children. In “Reminding Our Hearts That Children Are a Blessing,” Emily Rose Massey challenges us to look beyond cultural attitudes toward children and remember what Scripture says about their value. Psalm 127:3 calls children a gift from the Lord and a reward, giving parents a biblical perspective when the world may treat children as a burden or inconvenience.

Our words matter, especially because children are always watching and listening. Emily encourages parents to respond to insensitive comments with truth and grace while also challenging Christians to become people who encourage other parents rather than add to their burdens. When we see children as God sees them, our response can become an opportunity to point others toward His goodness, faithfulness, and grace.

Highlights
Why common comments about parenting can affect both parents and children
What Psalm 127:3 teaches us about the value of children
How cultural attitudes can cause us to view children as a burden
Why Christians are called to think differently from the culture around them
How parents can respond to insensitive comments with truth and love
Why children are paying attention to the way adults speak about them
How everyday interactions can become opportunities to live out our faith

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Full Transcript Below:

Reminding Our Hearts That Children Are a Blessing

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3, NASB 1995).

“You have your hands full!”

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard that phrase in my ten years of being a mom when I was out and about with my kids in public, I would probably be a quasi-millionaire! Well, that might be an over-exaggeration, but I have heard it quite often! Although I know most people are just trying to find something to say to connect with a stranger, I do wish we could find a different phrase to say that encourages moms with little ones who take them out in public. 

A few times recently, that common phrase was followed up with some extremely rude and inappropriate remarks when they found out that I did not, in fact, have all my children with me and that I had more at home. Our children also hear those negative comments about them. They are much smarter and more observant than we give them credit for sometimes. How do we think their little hearts are being impacted by what strangers believe about their mere existence? It often makes me question how we, as a society, truly view children or big families in general. I only have four children, so I cannot imagine what moms with more than that might hear while grocery shopping!

Truthfully, I think we need to pay attention to what the scriptures say about children because God created them. God calls children a blessing, a gift from the Giver of good gifts. Do we have eyes to see them as a blessing?

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3, NASB 1995).

Intersecting Life & Faith:

I understand that those who are not Christians dismiss what the Bible says about any topic, so we should not be very shocked when the world behaves in a worldly way or says unlovely things about what God has created. Unfortunately, our culture speaks more highly of pets than of children. As Christians, though, we need to live counter-culturally and not get swept up in the world’s ways or thinking. We all might be guilty of viewing children as a burden or annoyance from time to time. It’s human nature to be selfish and bothered by anyone (even those tiny ones) who may interrupt our plans or embarrass us in public. We must remind our hearts of what God says about these precious little souls, and we must lead by example. 

I have shared some of my thoughts regarding these comments in public with my friends who are moms of little ones to encourage them not to grow offended, but to meet these remarks with truth and love. One idea a dear friend shared with me was that when someone tells her that she has her hands full, she responds, “Not as full as my heart!” 

Friends, this is our opportunity to boast in the Lord’s goodness for blessing us with these children that He calls a reward! Our response to them testifies to our faith in Jesus Christ and can challenge their own thinking about how they view God’s blessings, especially if the person professes to be a follower of Christ. I think it is important to be prepared to have these kind and truthful responses when we are out in public with our children. What other phrases come to mind that you can offer to the strangers who might choose to connect with you about your kids? Ask the Lord for these opportunities to not only respond lovingly but perhaps even engage in conversation about God’s faithfulness and grace that you experience in parenthood. 

Let’s live our faith out loud when we are running errands at the grocery store, the post office, the doctor’s office, or waiting in line to order some lunch. How can you encourage moms and dads when they are in public with their kids so that they also know that their children are not seen as a burden or nuisance? Our kids are always listening and watching! What kind of response will they hear from your lips when someone tries to shame their existence? I hope they hear how much you love them and thank the Lord for giving you such amazing gifts from above. More importantly, the Lord is listening and watching how we speak of children in our lives or around us. Thank You, Lord, for our children… what abundant blessings they are to our lives! May You receive all the glory in our hearts and lives as parents to these precious souls. 

Further Reading:

Matthew 18

Parenting can come with plenty of unsolicited comments, especially when you're out in public with your children. In &ldquo;Reminding Our Hearts That Children Are a Blessing,&rdquo; Emily Rose Massey challenges us to look beyond cultural attitudes toward children and remember what Scripture says about their value. Psalm 127:3 calls children a gift from the Lord and a reward, giving parents a biblical perspective when the world may treat children as a burden or inconvenience.
Our words matter, especially because children are always watching and listening. Emily encourages parents to respond to insensitive comments with truth and grace while also challenging Christians to become people who encourage other parents rather than add to their burdens. When we see children as God sees them, our response can become an opportunity to point others toward His goodness, faithfulness, and grace.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1110" data-end="1603">
<li data-section-id="ng80ff" data-start="1110" data-end="1184">Why common comments about parenting can affect both parents and children</li>
<li data-section-id="pe10eq" data-start="1185" data-end="1242">What Psalm 127:3 teaches us about the value of children</li>
<li data-section-id="3olink" data-start="1243" data-end="1309">How cultural attitudes can cause us to view children as a burden</li>
<li data-section-id="1fv6som" data-start="1310" data-end="1387">Why Christians are called to think differently from the culture around them</li>
<li data-section-id="19lifgs" data-start="1388" data-end="1457">How parents can respond to insensitive comments with truth and love</li>
<li data-section-id="1nubno6" data-start="1458" data-end="1528">Why children are paying attention to the way adults speak about them</li>
<li data-section-id="kntwpl" data-start="1529" data-end="1603">How everyday interactions can become opportunities to live out our faith</li>
</ul>
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<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Reminding Our Hearts That Children Are a Blessing
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Behold,&nbsp;children are a&nbsp;gift of the&nbsp;Lord, the&nbsp;fruit of the womb is a reward&rdquo; (Psalm 127:3, NASB 1995).
&ldquo;You have your hands full!&rdquo;
If I had a dollar for every time I have heard that phrase in my ten years of being a mom when I was out and about with my kids in public, I would probably be a quasi-millionaire! Well, that might be an over-exaggeration, but I have heard it quite often! Although I know most people are just trying to find something to say to connect with a stranger, I do wish we could find a different phrase to say that encourages moms with little ones who take them out in public.&nbsp;
A few times recently, that common phrase was followed up with some extremely rude and inappropriate remarks when they found out that I did not, in fact, have all my children with me and that I had more at home. Our children also hear those negative comments about them. They are much smarter and more observant than we give them credit for sometimes. How do we think their little hearts are being impacted by what strangers believe about their mere existence? It often makes me question how we, as a society, truly view children or big families in general. I only have four children, so I cannot imagine what moms with more than that might hear while grocery shopping!
Truthfully, I think we need to pay attention to what the scriptures say about children because God created them. God calls children a blessing, a gift from the Giver of good gifts. Do we have eyes to see them as a blessing?
&ldquo;Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward&rdquo; (Psalm 127:3, NASB 1995).
Intersecting Life &amp; Faith:
I understand that those who are not Christians dismiss what the Bible says about any topic, so we should not be very shocked when the world behaves in a worldly way or says unlovely things about what God has created. Unfortunately, our culture speaks more highly of pets than of children. As Christians, though, we need to live counter-culturally and not get swept up in the world&rsquo;s ways or thinking. We all might be guilty of viewing children as a burden or annoyance from time to time. It&rsquo;s human nature to be selfish and bothered by anyone (even those tiny ones) who may interrupt our plans or embarrass us in public. We must remind our hearts of what God says about these precious little souls, and we must lead by example.&nbsp;
I have shared some of my thoughts regarding these comments in public with my friends who are moms of little ones to encourage them not to grow offended, but to meet these remarks with truth and love. One idea a dear friend shared with me was that when someone tells her that she has her hands full, she responds, &ldquo;Not as full as my heart!&rdquo;&nbsp;
Friends, this is our opportunity to boast in the Lord&rsquo;s goodness for blessing us with these children that He calls a reward! Our response to them testifies to our faith in Jesus Christ and can challenge their own thinking about how they view God&rsquo;s blessings, especially if the person professes to be a follower of Christ. I think it is important to be prepared to have these kind and truthful responses when we are out in public with our children. What other phrases come to mind that you can offer to the strangers who might choose to connect with you about your kids? Ask the Lord for these opportunities to not only respond lovingly but perhaps even engage in conversation about God&rsquo;s faithfulness and grace that you experience in parenthood.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s live our faith out loud when we are running errands at the grocery store, the post office, the doctor&rsquo;s office, or waiting in line to order some lunch. How can you encourage moms and dads when they are in public with their kids so that they also know that their children are not seen as a burden or nuisance? Our kids are always listening and watching! What kind of response will they hear from your lips when someone tries to shame their existence? I hope they hear how much you love them and thank the Lord for giving you such amazing gifts from above. More importantly, the Lord is listening and watching how we speak of children in our lives or around us. Thank You, Lord, for our children&hellip; what abundant blessings they are to our lives! May You receive all the glory in our hearts and lives as parents to these precious souls.&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Matthew 18

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Reminding Our Hearts That Children Are a Blessing

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/62429239-a3c5-4adf-83b4-b4a40120ceb9/transcript