QF and Bad Genes?

[Hopesmommy]

If you are QF, how does that work if you are at risk of having children with horrible genetic diseases? Do you then prevent, or trust God to give you the children you are supposed to have?

This is not an attack on anyone or anything. My dh and I would love to be QF, but we have had two children with an awful metabolic disorder. One of our children died a horrible death. So I'm curious what other QF couples would do in a similar situation.

As much as I always appreciated responses, I'd really rather only hear from QF families on this particular thread.

[cappuccinosmom]

You might join the Quiverfull email list to ask a broader range of people. It's not something I personally have had to deal with.

I do know of some situations where the family remained QF when it was found out that they were facing something like this. Just not personally, but over the net. I think others might say that while they believe QF is the best route, they are just not humanly capable of bearing up under the weight of such a thing, and that's totally understandable.

Hypothetically dh and I are just complete birth control rejectionists. It would not be a pleasant prospect to think of our children born with painful or difficult disorders. Heartbreaking. But we believe those children too are God's creation and blessings, though suffering more than others under the weight of our imperfect bodies, and that their lives can be lived fully and beautifully and they can be valuable contributors to society, even if that life lasts only a few hours or a few years.

[lilyka]

that is such a hard decision to be faced with. And I am sorry for the loss of your beloved child.

[fruitfulmomma]

We would not use birth control period. For us qf isn't merely having lots of children, although we would certainly love that, it is also believing that God is in absolute control of the womb and that we can not have any child that He did not want us to have.

This is a good website http://www.joniandfriendstv.org/ for families dealing with disabilities and there is one episode, "When Disability Hits Home", that I think deals with God and the issue of disabilities beautifully. It doesn't touch on the qf issue but I know the father of the little girl is in favor of large, fruitful families. I will pm you with his email address as I'm sure he'd be glad to talk to you about his experience and thoughts on this issue.

[cappuccinosmom]

[wombatclay]

I know at least one family that left the QF lifestyle after having several children with a specific, rare, disorder and deciding that they simply could not be open to more. Although they gave up that specific aspect of QF, I think they continued to follow many of the other QF philosophical guidelines. I realize that rejecting portions of QF isn't the option you want to think about, but perhaps it would help to read her reasoning even though you're hoping to reach a different conclusion. I could pm you her blog addy if you want (I'm going to be away for the next few days so if you do pm me I wont get it till Monday).

I hope you find the path that brings you peace and contentment through this difficult journey!