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In 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau reported 83.9 million families in the United States. About 40% of those families had children under the age of 18. This is a decline from 1970 when over half of families contained children. The average size of families has also shrunk to just over 3 people per household. How things have changed. One of my best friends from college grew up in a family of 14 children. Every time we journeyed off-campus to see a movie or do something, we ran into one of Freddie’s relatives. Or so it seemed. Their family was definitely above average when it came to the number of children.
As we wrap up a week looking at the passages in Psalms that describe the blessed man, you may be surprised by today’s episode. It tells us children are a blessing from God. Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.” (NIV)
We no longer meet in the city gates to argue legal disputes or organize for defense like they did in the psalmist’s day. Large families are no longer the fashion. But that does not change the fact that children are a blessing from the Lord.
*”Average number of people per family in the United States from 1960 to 2021,” Statistica Research Department, July 2y, 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/183657/average-size-of-a-family-in-the-us/
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.