The Value of Children

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to read the story below thought I would share it here. I am not the author, the story was online and was listed as author unknown. I just think that it is wonderful that someone took the time to point out the priceless gift that our children are. I am sure more that one of you can relate to this story.

We will be meeting at the Krasson's on Wednesday September 23 at 6:30. If you are able please come out and join us. I have been blessed to have attended a meeting of Men at the Cross last weekend and we will be listening to a portion of that meeting. For those who may not know what Men t the Cross actually is, it is a Christian Men's movement that began last year. They instruct on the importance of empowering men to be the Fathers, Husbands and Leaders that God has called them to be. There were 5 speakers at the meeting and we will begin week one listening to one of the speakers. I must tell you that no matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, be it before you have made the commitment or several years into it, you will not be bored. You will be encouraged! You will walk away a better Man from listening to it!

If you have any questions in regards to the meeting please let me know. I would encourage all who are able to attend. If someone has a need for a ride please let me know.


The Cost of Having Kids

I have seen repeatedly the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice, really nice!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 years old, and came up $160,140! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

For those with kids, that figure leads to wild fantasies about all the money we could have banked if not for (insert your child's name here).

For others, that number might confirm the decision to remain childless.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.44 a day!
Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you want to be "rich".

It is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?

Naming rights. First, middle, and last
Glimpses of God every day.
Giggles under the covers every night.
More love than your heart can hold.
Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
A hand to hold, usually covered with jam.
A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles, and
skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.
Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how
your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up.

You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to keep: reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watch Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling the wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins, but always treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.

Now think again………..Would you rather have the money or all this?