Reheated Coffee

Then There Were Five

BY AMANDA JACKMAN

Announcing the pregnancy of my fifth baby was wild.

“You know what causes that - right?”

Uncomfortably, I’d smile and say back, “Yep! I’m really good at it, too!” Just to make them as uncomfortable as I felt in the moment.

When you have more than the standard two kids in America, it feels like everyone thinks you’re crazy. The opinions of others shouldn’t matter because God is the one who gave them to us, and He trusts us with all the children He gives us.

One of my friends has the same number of kiddos as I do. When the two of us get together, there are ten kids under the age of eight. It’s a wild time. We are often in conversation about whether or not we are doing it right, if we messed up because we are struggling with dividing our time and conquering the crew we’ve been blessed with. We long for the days when we could put one child on each hip and grocery shopping was a breeze (and way cheaper, too). Then we send each other pictures of our oldest boys snuggling our youngest and being simply in awe of the goodness of a God who has blessed us abundantly.

Upon finding out about the upcoming birth each child, I’ve stared at the two pink lines and thought that God was crazy. How could I possibly love another baby like I love this one, or how could my heart grow to love another? How could I divide my time to make sure I’m meeting the needs of all of my children? Only God. He gives us the children and then also the strength to cope through it all. Friends with two children tell me all the time “I don’t know how you do it with five. I have two and feel like I’m going crazy!”

I tell them the truth. The truth is that it’s all hard. With one child, you’re their entire world, and they rely solely on you for interaction. Two kids are constantly fighting with each other. Three, you’re outnumbered, and life is crazy. Four kids, and now you’re trying to find room for everyone. Five is a different type of hard, but it’s all hard, which is why we have to trust God in this season.

We are called to be the peacemakers of our households. 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.' (MATTHEW 5:9 NIV)

We are called to be strong and to embody dignity. 'She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.' (PROVERBS 31:25 NIV)

We are also called to be blessed. 'Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.' (PROVERBS 31:28 NIV)

We are entrusted with God’s children. We love them so much, but how much more does He love them? We are called to be mothers, but we are also God’s children.

So while I sit in the depths of motherhood, begging God for the strength to get me through this wild and wonderful stage, I will reach up for Him in the way that my three-year-old gives a pouty lip and says, “Mama, I want you. Pick me up!”

Lord, pick me up. Hold me through this time. Cheek to cheek. Heart to heart.

When we get through this season of raising little people to love the Lord, and when they get to eternity because of our diligent work, I pray God looks at me and says, “Well done, good and faithful servant. I trusted you with five. You stewarded five to my Kingdom.”

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate (PROVERBS 31:31 NIV)

Amanda Jackman is from the small town of Imlay City, Michigan. She and her husband, Brad, have five children under the age of seven (Bradley-7, Juliet-6, Walter-5, Arthur-3, and Arlington-8 months). She has a Paralegal Studies Degree and enjoys reading and writing. She loves the busy life of being a wife and mother.