Children and the gift that they are
I was driving back home and listening to the radio today and the conversation was on Nordic free childcare system and short work hours. The talk was about how this expert is suggesting that we, Australia, should adopt the Nordic method of free childcare and shorter working hours for the greater happiness of the population. It also compared America and how their happiness, social security and healthcare is on the lowest ranking in the world.
In the last part of the interview, the facilitator was commenting on how two people texted in and said that having children is a lifestyle choice. If you can't afford it, don't do it. Everyone is responsible for their own choices. Which meant that other people shouldn't be made responsible for the lifestyle choices that other makes. Essentially what they meant was if people choose to have children they should be prepared to pay for their children.
The expert on the line replied with this excellent response:
" Retirement is a lifestyle choice, does that mean we don't need pension? Health is a lifestyle choice but does that mean we don't need Medicare? Education is a lifestyle choice, does that mean we don't need to make school free? Just because these are your lifestyle choices, doesn't mean that the government shouldnt be supporting the choices to make it easier for general population. Look at America and their increasingly indivdualistic lifestyle and how they're coping with the pandemic and their need to own a gun as a mean to protect themselves. Australia is one of the richest countries in the world and as a democratic country we are free to make choices that are good for the people. The Nordic countries had decided to choose this method of free childcare and shorter work hours and they are one of the richest and happiest country in the world."
The interview ended with a message from someone who said
"Those who choose to not have children are going to be needing the taxes paid by other people's children to build their roads and infrastructure when they're retired"
I was quite impressed by this interview because it highlights the importance of children as opposed to what the world had been telling everyone that children are hindrances to the society.
The Bible rightly tells us that children are a blessing to their parents. A bow in their quiver. Something precious. When God puts those words in His book, He was looking at the unique design of how He made everything to be. He knew what He was doing. He wanted a world that is generous, loving, other centred, and gracious. Just like He is.