Questions

[California Dreamin']

I am not here to be mean or rude, I am genuinely interested and getting married next year. I was wondering with Quiverfull, is it a mindset and you can have a few children or do you have to have a lot of children??

 

[k450ofu3k-gh-5ipe]

I am not here to be mean or rude, I am genuinely interested and getting married next year. I was wondering with Quiverfull, is it a mindset and you can have a few children or do you have to have a lot of children??

I'm not sure if my definition is right or not on what Quiverfull means, but my mom defined our family as Quiverfull, so my understanding must be right in some sense.

As I know it, it's the decision to leave the number of children a couple has up to God using no artificial or intentional means of birth control. If a couple does this, assuming no infertility or other medical problems, they'll end up having many more children than the average family.

I don't think a family with an average number of children can be considered a Quiverfull, although if they want to define themselves as one, no one is stopping them. To answer your question, Quiverfull is a mindset that children are always a blessing from God and that there are no accidents, and it generally manifests itself by many, many children or "blessings."

Also, David uses the metaphor of a quiver in Psalm 127 which is where I believe the word Quiverfull comes from:

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.
5 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.

Eh, the passage is pretty self-explanatory.

 

[California Dreamin']

Thanks!!!!
That did help.

 

[Sabertooth]

The number of children is not a determining factor. It's just about availing you married sex life and fertility to God (along with every other aspect of your life) per,

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." Rom. 12:1

and

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." Rom. 6:13

Quiverfull offers no guarantee of having many, many children, nor is it a promise from God that you will only have the number of children you believe you would be comfortable with. It is surrendering your supposed "right" to choose, in favor of God's declared ideals for your family. You do not owe anyone else to abide by this, but QF couples have all been convicted of this somewhere along the line. Since there are so many of us that have been so convicted at the same time, it has been referred to as a movement. It is really just part of the same sanctification process that all of the redeemed go through.

 

[California Dreamin']

I am very, very interested in this!

 

[xDenax]

I know many quiverfull couples. I have a friend who has always been open to children and never prevented a pregnancy. Now in her mid 30's she only has two children. She would love more but it just hasn't' happened. Being quiverfull for most people is just being open to as many children as God gives, as someone already mentioned above. I do know that some people feel judgement if they don't have a certain number. That is very sad and quite hurtful to those families. God doesn't choose to give every couple a big family.

 

[xDenax]

I don't think a family with an average number of children can be considered a Quiverfull, although if they want to define themselves as one, no one is stopping them.

That's pretty unfair given that God doesn't choose to bless every couple with a big family. Some women will never give birth to a child...that doesn't make them less Quiverfull in heart and mind.

 

[California Dreamin']

I guess I was just wondering, I wanted to see if it's more of a mindset or attitude... or if you have to have lots of children. I know my mom wanted more children, but was only able to have me and I'm an only child... she couldn't conceive after me. She wasn't interested in being quiverful or anything... but she did want more and tried to. I just wasn't sure if you HAD to have a lot of children.

But thank you so much xDenax for your response.

 

[who93]

My husband and I have been married for nearly 2 years and consider ourselves to be of the quiverfull mindset. As of yet, we have not had any children nor are we currently expecting. We trust that God's plan is the best plan, whether or not He blesses us with one child, many children, or none.

 

[k450ofu3k-gh-5ipe]

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[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

you are right in thinking of QF as more of a mindset/attitude. It's not based around 'x' number of children, it's simply trusting God that he knows best in chosing how many and when!

We are pretty much QF in mindset, we've been married nearly 6 years - no BC at all in that time - and we have only 2 children.

 

[KathyO]

Yes I believe it is a mindset, not simply something you "do".

We have never had trouble getting pregnant. Even with our last baby, I had been on the pill for 4 years and fell within one month of throwing them in the bin (after finding out they can cause abortion).

Since Jack was born last Nov and becoming QF in January this year, I had a miscarriage at 9 weeks in April and haven't fallen pregnant since.

Becoming QF doesn't necessarily mean you will pop out a baby every 9 months.