Infertility is awkward. The holidays can be awkward. Put the two together, and it can make for a potentially explosive Christmas if we don't share with our loved ones how they should be responding. Through the years (and much trial-and-error), I’ve come to understand and recognize six key components to establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship with my friends and family in our infertility journey. There are six “A” words that make it easy to remember. Three have been placed on the Nice List, and three on the Naughty List. If you’re reading this today and feel as though you cannot share how you feel with your loved ones, allow me to do so for you. Simply share this post on … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Prayer for Those Trying to Conceive
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Dear heavenly Father, The Thanksgiving and holiday season can be painful for me, and sometimes the pain is all-consuming. Forgive me when I see my friends holding up their children’s drawings of turkeys or participating in a Thanksgiving play at school — and I believe the lie that because I don’t have what they have, that you don’t love me. For I know this is a lie from the enemy, Father, and I thank you that you desire to give good gifts for me (Matthew 7:11), and the enemy does not — keep my eyes fixed on you and your truth. It’s easy for me to feel entitled for you to bless me … [Read more...]
Celebrate Christmas with These Unique Advent Calendars
The word "Advent" has a Latin origin meaning "the coming," or more accurately, "coming toward." For Christians, Christmas is one of the greatest events of the year, as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given by God to mankind. That gift was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born into this world to live among us to show us the true nature of God. Jesus experienced human joy and sorrow along with us, and willingly died an agonizing death. The price was paid for all human sin that had cut us off from our Holy God -- and we have now been completely reconciled with him! That is why we celebrate Christmas! The History of the Advent Calendar Did you know, that centuries ago, the days preceding … [Read more...]
{Guest Post} Pursuing God in the Midst of Pregnancy Loss
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13) When life is good, pursuing God is difficult for my selfish heart. I am frequently putting other pursuits and indulgences above spending time with him. Pursuing God is a daily, intentional decision I have to make, with the help of the Holy Spirit. The grief after the loss of my children made pursuing God a thousand times harder. Grief made it difficult to get out of bed and make myself food, let alone have my “normal” quiet time with the Lord. Burying my daughter made me question God’s goodness, and at times, even his … [Read more...]