Can one ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ without having kids? This is a question I debate with myself on a regular basis. Mostly because childless (and childfree) people are often chided with the whole ‘But God commands us to be fruitful’ thing when others learn of our crime of childlessness.
Yeah. I don’t love it either.
Which is why I’ve constructed the following random list of ways in which a person can be fruitful without having biological children. These kinds of fruitfulness can leave a lasting impression, create a legacy or make a difference somehow. And they are all valid.
Fruitfulness can leave a lasting impression, create a legacy or make a difference.
Some of these represent the ways in which I am already being fruitful. How about you? Can you find things on this list that represent your fruitfulness—or can you add your own?
- Painting
- Writing
- Building something from scratch
- Sharing stories of pain and healing
- Renovating a house
- Planting and gardening
- Composing music
- Becoming a therapist
- Advocating for others
- Working consistently at a job you love
- Photography
- Becoming a teacher
- Adopting a furbaby
- Caring for nieces and nephews
- Scrapbooking
- Becoming a childless champion
- Starting your own business venture
- Collecting and preserving
- Upcycling and restoring old furniture
- Caring for godchildren, neighbourhood children and ‘surrogate’ children
- Sculpting
- Giving to charities
- Fossicking
- Reducing your carbon footprint
- Making clothes
- Praying for others
- Volunteering
- Sending thoughtful or encouraging texts to friends
- Giving gifts
- Patchwork
- Coaching
- Showing hospitality
- Training, supervising or mentoring others
- Graphic design
- Greeting your neighbours
- Petsitting
- Filmmaking
- Serving faithfully in ministry
- Creating websites
- Singing
- Creating collages
- Drawing
- Making new friends
- Cooking
- Sponsoring a child
- Making diamond art
- Knitting
- Noticing, and sharing, the beauty of nature with others
- Becoming a Big Brother/Big Sister/Pyjama Angel
- Smiling at someone
- Caring for an unwell or ageing loved one
- Making jewellery
- Collaborating on a project
- Giving a compliment
- Scriptwriting
- Housing a refugee
- Starting a podcast
- Preaching
- Thanking someone.
What would you add to this list? Share your story. Let’s have a countercultural conversation.