The heart of a man plans his way...Prov 16:9

Marriage is more than your love for each other.
 It has a higher dignity and power, for it is God’s holy ordinance, through which he wills to perpetuate the human race till the end of time. In your love you see only your two selves in the world, but in marriage you are
a link in the chain of the generations,
which God causes to come and to pass away to his glory, and calls into his kingdom.                                                                                                                            DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, Letters and Papers from  Prison, 27

We were doing the usual, discussing the weekly chapter on the way to our small group one Monday evening.  The book – John Piper’s This Momentary Marriage, the chapter – Marriage is Meant for Making Children…Disciples of Jesus:  How Absolute is the Duty to Procreate.  Awkward?  A little…considering we had only been married for two years and were clinging hard to that “five year plan”.  You know, the plan all of our married friends had to live the honeymoon years to the fullest before shackling ourselves to the ruiners-of-fun: children.  That’s what we thought, at least.

            He was the first to say it, that night in the car, “I think we need to start ‘trying’”.  I wasn’t as eager in my obedience.  I couldn’t deny God’s Word as we studied it together.

This was God’s original design. Marriage is the place for making children and filling the earth with the knowledge of the Lord the way the waters cover the sea (cf. Hab. 2:14). That has never ceased to be a good thing. “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (Ps. 127:4–5). (pg 140)

            But my flesh put up a battle.  We had plans right?  For the next eight months John Paul’s unwavering faithfulness to the Lord put mine to shame.  His confidence in the Holy Spirit’s leading toward growing our family was absolute.  Me however, not my proudest moments.  Ultimately, His challenge to trust Him couldn’t go unanswered.  And this journey – a journey three years in the making – began.