-Just Awareness-
Monday kicked off the start of
National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). If you asked me a year ago what I
knew about infertility, I wouldn't have been able to tell you very much. If you
asked me six months ago what I knew about infertility, I would have wanted to tell you that deep down I knew
there was something wrong. However, I probably said, “I’m just trying to relax, it’ll happen.” Or, “We are just going to go on vacation, it’ll for
sure happen then.” Because, that is what “they” all say, right? :”Just
relax, just go on vacation, just quit trying, just adopt, then you’ll get pregnant.”
I was a part of “they” at one point. Why? Because I was unaware, I was unaware of how many people infertility affects, I was unaware of the emotional and physical toll it takes on a couple, I was unaware of what we were about to face. I like to equate the unawareness part to when I was diagnosed with diabetes. “They” all told me, “just don’t eat sugar, and your levels will be fine.” Again, I was a part of “they” because I was unaware. It now seems there is more awareness for diabetes, at least there is in my circle. I’m not sure if this is because I have tried to make more people aware, or if society has done that itself-maybe it’s both.
One of my goals in going through IF (infertility), is to make people aware. It used to make me really upset when people would tell me to: “just relax”, or, “it could be worse”, or “just adopt”, or “just do Invitro-Fertilization.” While the “just” is never easy to hear, I have a better understanding that people are just unaware. When it come to IF, people know it is a touchy subject, and “they” just simply don’t know what to say, so they say what everyone else says. I know people are just trying to help. But, if there is more awareness, maybe“they” we, would know how to approach the topic of
Infertility in a more accepting, and sensitive way. I have had diabetes for ten
years, and I haven’t heard, “just
don’t eat sugar” in a long time! J
I am very grateful for this week, and it will be my lifelong goal to continue
to educate people on the Infertility issue in our nation!
I was a part of “they” at one point. Why? Because I was unaware, I was unaware of how many people infertility affects, I was unaware of the emotional and physical toll it takes on a couple, I was unaware of what we were about to face. I like to equate the unawareness part to when I was diagnosed with diabetes. “They” all told me, “just don’t eat sugar, and your levels will be fine.” Again, I was a part of “they” because I was unaware. It now seems there is more awareness for diabetes, at least there is in my circle. I’m not sure if this is because I have tried to make more people aware, or if society has done that itself-maybe it’s both.
One of my goals in going through IF (infertility), is to make people aware. It used to make me really upset when people would tell me to: “just relax”, or, “it could be worse”, or “just adopt”, or “just do Invitro-Fertilization.” While the “just” is never easy to hear, I have a better understanding that people are just unaware. When it come to IF, people know it is a touchy subject, and “they” just simply don’t know what to say, so they say what everyone else says. I know people are just trying to help. But, if there is more awareness, maybe
Now, on to one other area I would
like to address about myself. –Strength-
Webster defines strength as: the quality or state of being strong: Capacity for exertion or endurance. There have been many people in the last three months tell me that I’m so strong. I’m not. God is. God gives me strength EVERYDAY! There are some days that I just do not feel strong, there are days I don’t want to be strong, and there are days I have pretended to be strong. Those days, (which are daily) God says: “Monica, I’m strong enough for both of us.” That is when I say, “ OK Lord, I’m giving this to you.” I have to do this daily, more than once a day!
Like I said, this is the hardest thing Paul and I have ever been through. It has shaken us to the core, but at church Sunday, we both felt like the sermon was written for us; it was truly amazing! The scripture was James 1:1-12. “Count it all Joy.” While this is not an easy thing to do, we know and feel in our hearts that this is what The Lord would have us do. We are both confident there are great things to come from all of this, and I’m talking about more than a child of our own; we know that is going to happen! We have already seen God working in our lives and we know there are many more great things to come. We are so excited to see God’s magnificent plan unfold!!
Thank you all for your continued prayers, support, and words of encouragement. I would like to close this post with a link to the song, “Strong Enough” by Matthew West. I think it’s pretty fitting right now.
Webster defines strength as: the quality or state of being strong: Capacity for exertion or endurance. There have been many people in the last three months tell me that I’m so strong. I’m not. God is. God gives me strength EVERYDAY! There are some days that I just do not feel strong, there are days I don’t want to be strong, and there are days I have pretended to be strong. Those days, (which are daily) God says: “Monica, I’m strong enough for both of us.” That is when I say, “ OK Lord, I’m giving this to you.” I have to do this daily, more than once a day!
Like I said, this is the hardest thing Paul and I have ever been through. It has shaken us to the core, but at church Sunday, we both felt like the sermon was written for us; it was truly amazing! The scripture was James 1:1-12. “Count it all Joy.” While this is not an easy thing to do, we know and feel in our hearts that this is what The Lord would have us do. We are both confident there are great things to come from all of this, and I’m talking about more than a child of our own; we know that is going to happen! We have already seen God working in our lives and we know there are many more great things to come. We are so excited to see God’s magnificent plan unfold!!
Thank you all for your continued prayers, support, and words of encouragement. I would like to close this post with a link to the song, “Strong Enough” by Matthew West. I think it’s pretty fitting right now.
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