Do you consider children a gift? Psalm 125-127

Psalms 127:3
" Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward."

We often miss the nuances of this simple verse.   The verse should be read and studied in light of the entire brief Psalm, in reality.  But, here we look at one, simply, and, yet, profound thought.   If we have children, it is a gift of God!  God gives gifts to us and we ought not think that it is simply our procreation that makes that possible.   In this Psalm, Solomon, the author, makes the point of telling us that children are a gift from the Lord.   Don't mistake that fact.   We may not always like what they do, or what they become (that has to do with how we raise them), but they are a gift from the Lord.   And, like any gift we ought to praise God for them.   Later, in this chapter, Solomon will refer to them as arrows in the bow.   Children are a gift, because in life the are our protection.  They are sent by God to keep us safe ... from working through life and taking no time to concentrate on something other than work or ourselves.   These gifts of God are a joy to our youth and a comfort to us in our old age.   Children are giving to particular parents for particular reasons.   They might not be acting the way you want, but they are your gift.  Watching children grow and become men and women is a gift.   God blesses us with children and with the gift of procreation and parenthood.   It is a shame in our society how abusive that role in life can become.   Embrace the role of parenthood as it should be embraced ... it is a gift from God.