Why Separate Childbearing-and-Raising from Marriage?

I cannot think of one good reason to separate the act of bearing and raising children from the context of marriage. Can you? When I consider all that conceiving a child, carrying a child in the womb, and what the labor and birth of a child entails I can’t help but wonder what woman would want to take on all of this alone–completely unsupported by the father, family, or friends–(I understand that some women do take it all on without the help or care of their baby’s father–who has abandoned them). To think that there are women who willingly do so boggles my mind.

When I consider the way women are “wired”–our genius as females–I find it disordered for women. Given our sensitivity and preference for relationship–our ability to look after the relationships of our life–neglecting or abandoning the most significant relationship to the wellbeing of our children is simply not the behavior of a woman who cares about herself and her offspring! Women who desire what is in the absolute best interest of children prepare well for marriage–the best context for bearing and raising children.

I know that there are older women who can attest to this. I hope that the older women will step forward and challenge the younger women to step up to the plate and do what is best for themselves and their children. Younger women are the ones making this disaster of a choice. Let’s not look the other way! Let’s reach out to them and mentor them. They need to know that there is something more for them–that they were intended for something more!