Musnad Ahmad Hadith 21840

It is narrated from Ash'ath bin Qais (may Allah be pleased with him) that I came to the service of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ) with the delegation of Kindah. The Noble Prophet (ﷺ) asked me, "Do you have any children?" I replied, "When I was leaving towards you, a son was born to me from Bint Jamd. I wished that instead of him, people would have been satisfied with water, that would have been better." The Noble Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not say such things, because children are the coolness of the eyes, and if they die, they become a source of reward. Yes, if you must say something, then say that children become a cause of cowardice and grief." (He said this sentence twice.)