Our Children: Gifts of God in a Hostile Environment
The Bible tells us that children are a blessing from God, and most couples
readily welcome them into their families. Human reproduction is one of life's
most treasured and memorable experiences. Consider how God intended for this
beautiful event to transpire.
United in marriage, a husband and wife determine that they
would like to have a child. Similar to God's preparation for His family, which
was done prior to the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:4;
1 Peter 1:20), this couple prepares for their child through education and
establishing a means of supporting the new life they want to bring into the
world. They are now ready to conceive a baby.
With tender words and affection the two embrace each other
in love, culminating in sexual climax. The father's sperm starts to make its
way into the mother's ovum and a new life begins. At this moment of conception
a unique genetic package comes into existence that contains everything this
person will become-from gender, height, foot size and eye color to health
factors he or she is predisposed to experience.
Growth and development after conception are rapid. Within
18 days a new heartbeat begins. At around three weeks, eyes, a spinal cord
and a digestive system are forming. After a month and a half, brain waves
are detectable. By about two months, fingers and toes are beginning
to show, and by the 18th week the fetus is moving and kicking.
