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  • Ryan Duncan What topic related to Christianity, faith, and the Bible is trending online and in social media today?
  • Updated Jul 01, 2013

How many kids do you want when you grow up? Two or Three? Sixteen? This was the kind of question many people remember asking when they were children themselves. For Kayse and Jon Pratt, a young couple in the process of delivering their second child, the best number stands at two.    

In her blog, Kayse recently wrote,

“Jon and I have talked at length about the number of kids we hope for our family to have. He came into marriage wanting two, I came in wanting four. We compromised on three kids, theoretically. Since then, both of our opinions have changed, life is more real than theoretical, and we have a lot to think about. As does every family.”

The backlash that followed her announcement surprised the young couple. E-mails began flooding in, urging the two towards more children. Some even claimed it is their Christian duty to have as many children as possible. While some of the comments were debatable, they all raise a similar question, “How many children should a Christian family have?”

In another Crosswalk article, author Whitney Hopler explains her decision to continue expanding her family, despite the risk it may pose to her health and the health of her unborn child. Though she and her husband still carried reservations, they believed another child would be a sign of gratitude to Christ for the sacrifice he’d made. Whitney writes,      

“This time we both heard God's voice speaking to us in the rhythm of our hearts and heads working together. We couldn't predict what would happen, but we had to be willing to take risks for love -- no matter what the cost. There was simply no other way to be faithful to the One whose love compelled Him to risk leaving heaven for earth that first Christmas.”

So, what size is “just right” for a Christian family? To be honest, I don’t think there is one. My best friend in college was an only child, and he taught me more about God than I could ever say. I come from a family of six, with three crazy sisters I wouldn’t trade for anything. God has changed the world with many people, and other times he has changed it with only one.   

Whether you choose to have a big family or a small one, what’s important is that its foundation is built on the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

*This Article First Published 7/1/2013

** "Ryan Duncan is the Entertainment Editor at Crosswalk.com"