By Alyson Shedd
It all started with a phone call. I was 38 years old and nursing my fourth baby and what I was assumed would be my final child. Brad and I always wanted four children—a nice even number. To “be fruitful and multiply” meant four children . . . at least that is how we interpreted Genesis 1:28.
Our fourth child was delightful in every way but was not nursing well, losing weight, and “not thriving” according to the pediatrician. I was reluctant to supplement her with formula and remembered a family of ten that had attended our church years prior that had goats. I know the Holy Spirit led me to call Lynn. What I thought would be a quick question turned into a lengthy conversation about being “open” to more children.
I told Lynn that we “multiplied.” I explained my concerns about my age and that I would be pushing 40 if I had more children. She asked if I would be open to reading “A Full Quiver” by Rick and Jan Hess and “Be Fruitful and Multiply” by Nancy Campbell. I ordered the books.
The lack of weight gain for my fourth baby led us to drive out to the Hiltons’ home to get raw goats’ milk to supplement our baby along with my nursing. Not only did our baby begin to gain weight and grow, but my heart became excited at the thought of more children. After my husband read “Be Fruitful and Multiply” he was completely convinced that we were to trust God with our family size. My husband is a very intelligent theologian, and he found Nancy’s book filled with biblical accuracy and integrity to the commandment and blessing of trusting God for the children He wants for our families.
With my age, we had faith for at least one more. I could never have imagined what God was about to do with my full surrender! When Brad and I first married, we wanted to have children someday. However, we were not open to the blessing of children right away because we were part of a community and upbringing that encouraged building our careers over building our family.
I began to regret with great sadness the first six years of our marriage when we chose to control my womb. I remember getting on my knees, asking for forgiveness, and pleading with the Lord to bless me with the children I would have had during the first years of our marriage. I prayed fervently for these “redemption children.”
I became pregnant with my fifth child at age 39, delivered when I was 40. My sixth child (age 42), my seventh child (age 44), and God completed our family with our eighth child at age 46! All four of these pregnancies were healthy and the deliveries were normal—all in my forties!
These four children (now teenagers and young adults) are blessings beyond what I could have ever dreamed. Not only did these babies expand our family, but they have expanded the Kingdom of God through their witnessing to friends, mission trips, and faithful service in our church.
Surrendering your womb to the Lord may or may not mean eight children. We have dear friends who have surrendered and have one child. It is not about the “number.” It’s about the surrender. We can trust God that He will give us the children He wants in our family for our good and His glory.
I shudder to think what life would have been like without these four additional children—the fruit of our surrender. I want to add, as well, that unity between husband and wife is so important in this decision. Pray until you are unified. God blesses those who “dwell in unity” (Psalm 133:1).
My dear friend, Lynn Hilton, who encouraged and challenged me, went home to be with Jesus after a brief battle with cancer. I will be forever grateful for this special friend who spoke truth to me and changed the course of eternity in my family. I was “set free!”
ALYSON SHEDD
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Chesapeake, Virginia, USA
Picture: The four beautiful children God gave Brad and Alyson when she was in her forties: Susanna (21), Laura (19), Juliana (17), and Brennan (15).
P.S. I also talk about Lynne Hilton on page 24 of Above Rubies #102.