When is the Miracle a Burden?

It is said that giving birth is indeed a miracle. To give life to a body is something special. To be able to bring another soul into this world is an unparalleled ability. But is there a limit to how many miracles you want to create?

Nadya Suleman gave birth to octuplets recently. That's eight babies! In one go! Now she has 14 children, with 6 children previously, including 1 set of twins. Ever since then, her family and her have been put under the spotlight. The issue? She is unable to financially support her children.

But Nadya is just an extreme example. I'm sure there are parents out there who are in a similar situation. My question is, should we stop creating miracles, given the circumstances?

However much we would like to deny it, unfortunately, money does makes the world go round (and so does a host of other things). Without sufficient funds, parents would be hard-pressed in providing the basic necessities for the little ones. When they just arrived into this world, at the top of their need-list are milk powder and diapers. Then there's the countless check-ups and jabs the doctor requires the baby to be subjected to. That's fine if you have them one at a time. Imagine for Nadya, you'd need to go for 8 everytime. Hopefully healthcare is comprehensive enough to cover for such expenses.

Then when they grow up, there will be lots to pay for. Still at basic necessities, you need clothing and food. All 8 in one go. Suffice to say, your expenses for one month is increased eight-fold.

And as they grow older, the situation repeats when they reach an age where education becomes a factor. Who should we send for further studies? Can we afford to send ALL of them go? If so, school fees need to be eight-fold!

So the question here is, do you draw the line base on your financial capability? Someone once told me, we should not wait till we have money before having a child. It's because when you have a child, somehow, things will work out financially. I may agree to that. One child is not that tough an act to juggle. But will it put a strain when you have a second child? Or even a third? Or, goodness me, a fourth, when you are having trouble as it is to make ends meet?

Religiously, some view abortion as a no-no. That we should not take a life. That we should rejoice God's gift to us. And that we should leave things to Him. If it happens, it happens. But don't we have a hand in the matter? Don't we have a say as to what environment we want to child to grow up in? Don't the child deserve a good life? Instead of being born directly into poverty and have difficulty in obtaining the basic neccessities?

I am neither supporting nor condemning Nadya's actions here. I am merely wondering where to draw the line in not having another child simply because you are unable to support the child. Nadya had a choice. She chose to embark on a path of pro-creation. Different people will choose differently. I know I will stop where I am and concentrate on the ones I already have instead of bringing more miracles into this world, for better or for worse. What would your choice be?