The Boundless E-Newsletter by Ted Slater on 09/29/2006 at 3:21 PM

Thought about signing up for our free e-newsletter, but weren't sure what to expect?

First, what not to expect: You won't be getting spammed, as we have a strict policy at Boundless and Focus on the Family not to share your e-mail information (or any other information about you) with anyone outside our ministry.

You will, however, receive an e-newsletter when we update our site on Thursdays, and a brief reminder when we update our site on Mondays. Below is an excerpt of the e-newsletter I sent out yesterday.

There's a reason this e-newsletter is later getting to you than normal. My 10-month-old baby daughter, who's been sick with a fever for a couple of days (and nights), had a "febrile seizure" this afternoon. Pretty scary. And while at the hospital, without being provoked, a little girl punched my other daughter, a 2-year-old, in the face. Pretty infuriating.

Both are fine now, playing downstairs in the family room.

OK, let's see if I can tie this into our lead story. I think I can.

More and more married couples are choosing not to have children. In 1970, nearly 75 percent of women 25 to 29 were parents. Now it's under 50 percent. In the 70s, only 10 percent of women in their 40s were childless; that figure has doubled to 20 percent.

Does it matter? I think it does.

Those couples who choose not to have kids miss out on the surge of love and appreciation when they realize their baby girl's seizure isn't marking her transition to death. Couples who choose not to have kids miss out on the surge of parental protectiveness that welled up in my chest when I broke up the surreal fight in the hospital waiting room, and as I made sure the tiny pugilist didn't get too close to my girl.

It may be a cliché, but I've also found it to be true that having children has helped me to better understand the depth of the love and protectiveness the Lord has for me. Those who choose childlessness just can't grasp that vision the way those who've brought a life into being can.

This week Roberto further explores the issue of childlessness, as brought out in a recent report from The National Marriage Project at Rutgers University titled "The State of Our Unions 2006." We at Boundless have drawn a good deal from previous years' reports; this year is no different. (Don't miss Steve's blog entry on this report.)

Heather brings us our second article, an encouragement to godly-minded guys to give as much attention to their finances as to their character. Yes, it's an article that talks about money. Not always the most popular on Boundless. But let me encourage you men to read it — I found it very helpful and think you may as well.

Finally (what a long editorial this has become!), Suzanne is provoked by a movie she saw recently to come to the defense of married life, to try to diffuse the trendy lie that married life marks "the end" — of excitement, of creativity, of living. Today's roller coaster ride of anxiety and refreshed love testifies against that pernicious lie.

If you're interested in receiving a weekly reminder of new Boundless content, along with an engaging editorial written by the editor (hey, that's me!), just fill out the form beginning on this page.

The Boundless E-Newsletter by Ted Slater on 09/29/2006 at 3:21 PM

Thought about signing up for our free e-newsletter, but weren't sure what to expect?

First, what not to expect: You won't be getting spammed, as we have a strict policy at Boundless and Focus on the Family not to share your e-mail information (or any other information about you) with anyone outside our ministry.

You will, however, receive an e-newsletter when we update our site on Thursdays, and a brief reminder when we update our site on Mondays. Below is an excerpt of the e-newsletter I sent out yesterday.

There's a reason this e-newsletter is later getting to you than normal. My 10-month-old baby daughter, who's been sick with a fever for a couple of days (and nights), had a "febrile seizure" this afternoon. Pretty scary. And while at the hospital, without being provoked, a little girl punched my other daughter, a 2-year-old, in the face. Pretty infuriating.

Both are fine now, playing downstairs in the family room.

OK, let's see if I can tie this into our lead story. I think I can.

More and more married couples are choosing not to have children. In 1970, nearly 75 percent of women 25 to 29 were parents. Now it's under 50 percent. In the 70s, only 10 percent of women in their 40s were childless; that figure has doubled to 20 percent.

Does it matter? I think it does.

Those couples who choose not to have kids miss out on the surge of love and appreciation when they realize their baby girl's seizure isn't marking her transition to death. Couples who choose not to have kids miss out on the surge of parental protectiveness that welled up in my chest when I broke up the surreal fight in the hospital waiting room, and as I made sure the tiny pugilist didn't get too close to my girl.

It may be a cliché, but I've also found it to be true that having children has helped me to better understand the depth of the love and protectiveness the Lord has for me. Those who choose childlessness just can't grasp that vision the way those who've brought a life into being can.

This week Roberto further explores the issue of childlessness, as brought out in a recent report from The National Marriage Project at Rutgers University titled "The State of Our Unions 2006." We at Boundless have drawn a good deal from previous years' reports; this year is no different. (Don't miss Steve's blog entry on this report.)

Heather brings us our second article, an encouragement to godly-minded guys to give as much attention to their finances as to their character. Yes, it's an article that talks about money. Not always the most popular on Boundless. But let me encourage you men to read it — I found it very helpful and think you may as well.

Finally (what a long editorial this has become!), Suzanne is provoked by a movie she saw recently to come to the defense of married life, to try to diffuse the trendy lie that married life marks "the end" — of excitement, of creativity, of living. Today's roller coaster ride of anxiety and refreshed love testifies against that pernicious lie.

If you're interested in receiving a weekly reminder of new Boundless content, along with an engaging editorial written by the editor (hey, that's me!), just fill out the form beginning on this page.