Infertility affects over 7 1/2 million couples in the United States alone. A few statistics...
*50% of women & 15% of men classify it as the worst event of her/his life.
*13% of women who go through IVF will discuss suicidal thoughts with her doctor.
*60% of couples make more sacrifices during treatments than when they have a child. *70% say they miss the carefree relationship they once had with one another.
*69% of couples say they feel emotionally unstable.
*56% claim they are consistently concerned with finances during this time.
*77% claim depression; 72% claim they are mostly angry; 56% feel anxious; and 71% say the unsolicited questions, suggestions, & "it will happen when the time is right" or "it will happen when you relax" comments send them into uncontrolled (but often harbored inside) anger.
There are over 6 million pregnancies each year in America.
*Over 4 million are live births.
*Just under 2 million are losses & of those losses, 700,000 are miscarriages, 64,000 are ectopic, 6,000 are molar, 100,000 are stillbirths, & yes, if you've been calculating, that makes just over 1 million remaining & they are terminated.
The word child or children appears over 2,000 times in the bible. The phrase "Honor thy (mother/father/parents)" occurs ten times, each with very specific directives. "Family" is mentioned just over 120 times; "Fathers" (as in earthly) appears somewhere around 150 times; "Mothers" appears approximately 250 times.
When Eve took a bite of the apple & sin fell into the world, God declared to Eve: "I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children." Pregnancy & childbearing were initially intended to be quite easy; It was because of OUR sin that we feel pain.
For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be a mother. For all of our 6 year marriage, we have prayed that God would bless us with a child & sought plenty of medical interventions, as we were led. I have felt the range of those emotions listed above. Honestly though, I can't think of anything I haven't enjoyed about being pregnant. What a gift! Yes, I've experienced ups & downs & the difficulties have grown me, but the sheer fact that 6 months ago, my daughter was a few cells...BLOWS MY MIND! And as keenly as I am aware of these statistics, emotions, & "commonalities" of pregnancy, I am also claiming the scripture which states:
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD."
Many moons ago, the Lord spoke directly to me from Habakkuk 3, verses 16-19. I rewrote them as the prayer, which has become my heart's cry:
"I heard the doctors tell us we cannot have children & my heart pounded, my lips quivered. Decay crept into my bones & for a moment, I lost the will to live. My legs trembled with every step...with every friend or relative who became pregnant or had a baby. I waited for the day my world would just completely collapse & listened as everyone told me told me to be patient & that it would be just fine. Even though there is nothing in sight I see which is producing anything fruitful & we continue our wait for a child, I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD & I WILL BE JOYFUL IN GOD MY SAVIOR. For He made my feet walk these paths & my heights are known to Him. He. Is. My. Strength."
If we are given the opportunity to be a mother (and just so you know my stance...I was a "mother" long before this child was growing in my womb...), I feel it is one of the greatest callings the Lord provides & it is a charge we should not take lightly. He does not state that pregnancy, labor, delivery, & parenting will be easy. In fact, He tells us walking on His straight & narrow path WILL be filled with struggles but He uses them for our growth. I don't intend to use my time here on earth focusing on the negative statistics or what things I am "entitled" to; I pray I use it effectively, to honor our Lord.
I might be a statistic to you, but to God, I am HIS CHILD & this path was chosen for me & I GLADLY, with Godly boldness, walk it. I choose EACH DAY to rejoice in the God of my salvation & with EVERY BREATH Praise His Holy name. He created this child ~ He created my body to carry her ~ He created me to be her mother & take care of her needs at this very moment in time ~ He may take her from me or leave her in my care until another time ~ But I will still, with every breath, Praise His Holy name!
I hope if His path is leading you to homeschooling, you realize how truly blessed you are & remember this is not an easy calling..It is not for everyone. You are now an all-day model for what you want your children to learn & what you say, think, & do will shape them forever. Will you rejoice always? Will you remember the Lord's promises that you will see the fruit of your labor if the time & perseverance is invested? Will you remain joyful & allow Him to be your strength? It's a choice ... What will you choose this day?
