On Sunday, we announced that my wife and I are expecting the birth of our second child. I still smile at the reaction from the congregation as we played the announce video and the ultrasound image flashed onto the screen. There was excitement, joy, and, yes, hope.

We are right there with those emotions. We have long desired a second child, and that it is finally happening is a blessing and a joy. There is a part of me that wants April 2020 to come now. I don’t have a lot of patience for standing around waiting. I’m pretty sure Abbi is ready for me to find something to occupy my mind so I’m not bugging her about getting ready now.

There is, however, a lot of work that goes into getting ready for a new baby. There are the obvious preparatory needs, such as the doctor’s appointments, purchasing new items, and getting the house ready for a new child. There is also the harder work of preparing your children, if you already have any, on what that new life will look like and, of course, that you will not love them any less.

All of this work makes me wonder … what does it look like to get ready for new families and children in the church? Continue reading “Making Room for Children”