Admiration

I admire you. Yes, you. Women who are unable to conceive naturally. Who have a desire to be pregnant and try everything under the sun without successfully carrying a child in utero. I admire your strength, courage, and determination. I admire your wisdom you gain through this process. I admire how you handle heartache on a daily occasion.
      I never truly thought of these women and their hardships until I was brought to this stage of my own. HOW SELFISH HAVE I BEEN??? Yes, I know plenty of women in this predicament and am even so blessed to call many of them friends. I have prayed alongside them, for them, and with them for children. But to truly feel their pain, I have not been successful in placing myself in their spots. And I am sorry for that. Your hearts were and are sensitive and I apologize for not being sensitive to that.
     I know many of these mothers who are now adoptive parents and are overly thrilled with that blessing that God has given them, but still, I know there is still a longing to carry a child. We, as women, have a responsibility (not only from God but His calling for us to others) to place ourselves in the shoes of the suffering. I fail this on a daily basis. Yes, these children that they have now adopted and called their own are no different than if they had their own, but there is still a sensitivity towards being pregnant. So, convicting myself, I call us to think of things we say to women in this position prior to saying/doing them. We need to encourage each other, pray for each other, and place ourselves in the other's shoes. Be honest with each other, I have found this to bring the most sanity to  me thus far! Pretending to be happy and jovial is way too much work, so having people we can be honest and open with is such a blessing!
     Thank you to those before me who have gone through infertility and taught me things. Thank you for being open with me and giving me a glimpse into your heart. Women who go through this are stronger than I ever could imagine and I admire your strength. You carry on and continue to praise God through it all. You give everyone hope who is in your shoes.