Thursday, December 18, 2008

A quick thought from the heart

I am not yet a mother. I will be, someday, but for now, I'm a career gal - a career gal who moonlights as a babysitter for a few friends with kidlets.

Last night I had the sweet opportunity to watch my friend Lauren's darling children - a tow-headed, adorable little boy of 22 months and a sweet baby girl of 8 months.

There is something so sweet about wrestling with a toddler or having a baby fall asleep in your arms. It's pretty amazing to realize that you've got the future in your arms.

And then it hit me.

This is why we're fighting this fight.

Too often I get more wrapped up in the socio-political implications of gay marriage and in the scriptural counsel on the matter. Which are important, no doubt - but at the end of the day, the true beneficiaries of our battles will be our children (or future children, in my case). I want them to be raised in a world where marriage matters, where traditional families are the norm and where religious freedoms, regardless of sect, are respected.

It may be an uphill battle - one that will not end until Jesus Christ himself returns to reign on this earth. But that's no matter. They that are with us be more than they that are against us, and thanks to prophecies new and old, we already know who wins.

Right will triumph. The question is, will you fight for God, or will you fight Him?

I am so grateful to be part of a network of fellow believers who are also standing for the right. Our children and grandchildren cannot fight this war yet - but we can do our best to hold off the worst for as long as we can.

It won't be easy, but oh, will it be worth it.

13 comments:

Tara said...

well said my friend. I too look forward to the day to have my babies, and yes this is ALL For them for sure!

Unknown said...

Wow. This self righteous, sense of entitlement nonsense makes me want to punch some sense into someone.

Get over yourself. If this were REALLY about the kids, you'd be concerned about children whose parents are gay, but not legally wed, who may or may not be taken from their homes if one parent dies.

*eyes roll*

Get over yourself and think about how you're teaching children about how being gay means one is "less of a person." If that doesn't define bigotry, I don't know what does.

Get married. Let your church dictate whom can marry. But don't shove your religious nonsense down everyone else's throats.

Pearl said...

Christa Jeanne, that was lovely. Don't let dissenting voices get to you. Your testimony is so strong and your children and your children's children will thank you for it.

I love this line:

"They that are with us be more than they that are against us, and thanks to prophecies new and old, we already know who wins."

My children thank you for your crusading, Christa Jeanne. As does their mother.

beetlebabee said...

You can roll your eyes until they fall out!

This fight is for the family, and there's nothing more important than that.

Unknown said...

You have hit it right on the head. This is all about creating the right world for the next generation. Even Tisha would probably agree with that, although she seems to disagree with your vision.

I agree with your vision. I want a world where marriage is defined as a sacred institution designed to foster the best possible environment for children - not merely as a loving relationship between adults.

And by the way, you are not self righteous simply for having your own opinion. And your opinion is beautiful. Keep up the fight.

Anonymous said...

Marriage is one of these basic human rights, one which is based on complementary sexual differences between men and women and the good of procreation. It has nothing to do with two men or two women pretending they have a "marriage".

emissary said...

"sense of entitlement"....

I think that every parent wants to give their children a better life than they had, at least in terms of what really matters. I want my children to know that the traditional definition of marriage is honored and upheld by the society in which they live. I want them to know that social science has found that the intact, married family is the best vehicle for making adults happy and for raising children.

I hope that's not too much to ask for.

CaliforniaCrusader said...

It is all about the children, and I admire you for standing up for traditional marriage!

Christa Jeanne said...

Thanks, guys, for your comments!!!

Tisha - gay couples CAN adopt. It's legal (in California, at least), and defining a homosexual union as "marriage" makes no difference with that one way or the other. You don't know me personally, nor do I know you - at least I don't think I do - so please don't judge me, as I don't judge you. I have close, close gay friends. I know their desire to raise a family - we've discussed it time and time again, and I have no doubt that they would make amazing fathers.

But a homosexual union inherently marginalizes a mother or a father. Traditional marriage brings together a man and a woman who have innate differences that children need. Granted, families aren't always perfect, but it's the ideal for which we shoot.

And I don't think there's anything self-righteous about standing up for our beliefs, realizing that we have an obligation to future generations to draw a line in the sand. Same-sex unions have EVERY RIGHT in the state of California that hetero marriages do. I'm so happy for that. Just don't call it something it's not - marriage.

Christa Jeanne said...

*and when I say "can adopt," I mean that if there's a same-sex couple, they can both be the legal guardians of any children in that union, thereby solving the problem you raised. I realize I didn't clarify that's what I meant.

Anonymous said...

christa jeanne!

love this post. everyone forgets, no matter what adults want, children NEED a mom and a dad.

and families are like pizza...even when it's bad, it's good.

obviously i'm not talking about abuse. butthe BEST part about families is that they are good and wonderful and helpful even when they aren't perfect.

Anonymous said...

Tisha said: "This self righteous, sense of entitlement nonsense makes me want to punch some sense into someone."

Whatever you want to call it, this is how it works: Every Sunday I took my five children to Church where they were taught from the scriptures. Every Monday night they were taught from the scriptures and the words of the prophets. Those five children are now grown and are marrying (traditional of course). The grandchildren (already arriving) will be raised the same way. While a lot of people talk and fight over same-sex marriage millions of families have already reared their children in light and truth.

QueenScarlett said...

Anyone who says that marriage has nothing to do with children is fooling themselves.

Marriage has everything to do with raising the next generation. Marriage between one man and one women is the ideal. That is undeniable. In an ideal situation - what is best is one man and one woman for every child. That is not always the case... but society needs to preserve the best of itself to ensure that society doesn't crumble to ruins.

Selfishness in any form, in any guise is destructive.

Thank you for this post. Thank you for putting so clearly the truth. Keep it up.