Coping with Miscarriage and Loss

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you can do tthis

The pain of miscarriage is so intense that even though I now have kids, I was unable to talk about it until recently.

I can only describe the moment when I realised I was losing my baby as unreal. I did not know what or how to feel. I was dumbfounded, confused, bemused, and had an out-of-body experience. It felt like it was not happening.

Such was my confusion, that I refused to think about what was happening. I shrugged it off and decided to go on with my plans for the day. In the hopes that when I return, everything will return to normal. I was wrong.

The friend I had plan to meet was shocked to hear that I had just learnt I was having a miscarriage and I was still intent on meeting her.

She talked me out of it. Maybe she shouldn’t have, maybe I would have cried my eyes out and openly grieved, I don’t know, but instead I hid away in fear, frustration, anger, void of any emotions.

Looking back now, I won’t recommend my way of dealing with my first miscarriage to anyone.

I returned to my day job a week after I had bled it out just because I was bored with staying at home and ashamed to look at myself in the mirror.

After the second miscarriage I was forced to deal with the lost differently. It turned out that my brother-in-law was getting married and had paid for us to attend the wedding in the beautiful country of Mauritius. This unconscious choice turned out to  be a blessing in disguise, it opened my mind to what others can do to cope with a loss.

  1. Go Away: shortly after my second miscarriage we had a wedding invitation far away to Mauritius. At first I was reluctant to go on the trip, I was still bleeding and was not in a celebratory mood. My husband persuaded me to visit my MD who decided a C-section was necessary to remove any remnant and avoid any mishaps while I was away. During our time away I remembered nothing of my loss. It was as if removing myself from the event was healing in itself. We had the hen night party, New Year’s Eve party, we were so busy, I had no time to wallow in misery. An added benefit was the messages and deep-sea relaxation i had, which did my body and mind a world of good.  Till date it’s still one of the best holiday I had been on. By the time we came back the loss seem like a distant memory. I was able to pluck up courage to try again.

  2. Dancing: I can picture your suprise, dance? yes, you read right, dance. Strange to recommend dancing to anyone who has had a miscarriage. I guess the fact that I was given the all clear to travel made me lose myself in the moment. Our resort had nightly entertainment which made it difficult not to dance. Dancing took me to a place I did not know existed. I was truly liberated from pain, anger, and fear. From that moment on I had music everywhere in the house. Now I dance at every occasion. Dance got me through this difficult and worse period of my life… On my return, I joined a local dance club where I regularly attend weekly dance classes. It was liberating and exhilarating. I found a new passion and hobby when I found dance, I was free from worry, from disturbing thoughts and most of all I enjoyed it. .

  3. Praying: One would think this should have been the first thing I do, na, I did everything else but talk to God. I did cry and complain, but I did Not stop to talk to my Heavenly Father about my feelings. On this trip, I had time to focus and have a clear mind. I took time to really communicate with him and I felt him near me. His presence was reassuring and I truly felt peaceful inside. I felt his gentle whisper that everything will be ok. In that moment of prayer I felt I can face whatever the future brings.  I can truly say my prayer times were the reason I healed so quickly long before I had a baby.

  4. Personal Reflection; linked closely with praying but during these times I did not pray I just reflected on the good things I had going on in my life. I forced my mind to refocus on the good not the bad. I learnt the lines from motivational songs and reflected on them. I retrained my mind to be still and not to wonder. On my return no one believed I had just had a miscarriage. There was no outward sign of sadness or depression. I had grief alright but I was healed.

You may not have the means to go away to experience the peace time away can bring, however you can steal away a few moments away somewhere quiet.

You can go on quiet walks in the park or wood and get lost in the beauty of nature.  You can take up swimming and afterwards steam in the sauna. In that time you can draw strength from within, from the beauty of nature and the peace it brings.

Other little things you can do.

  • Join a miscarriage support group, your local clinic may be able to recommend some to you. You can draw strength from the experiences of others

  • counselling: you may want to seek counselling, ask your support nurse or clinic for this.

  • Volunteering is a way of taking the focus off your issues. When you are well enough look at your local library or church and find out how you can volunteer.

I urge you to  embark on a trip of self rediscovery, set your mind free from the pain of the loss you have experience, find something that can refocus your thought, which can fill you will hope and strength again, and as you do, you will experience healing and become more resilient through the journey towards becoming a parent.

 

 Please let leave a comment and let us know your thoughts. also like and share our page you never know who will be blessed.

 

Your partner in Hope

D’Ebi

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National Infertility Week

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in the middleOn this National Infertility Week, I am flooded with memory of my time on the treadmill suffering this dreaded disease. Both good and bad memories. After all I tried unsuccessfully for several years to have a child. So it is with mix feelings I pen this piece.

Infertility is a sickness, a disease which should not be allowed to fester and thrive.

Over the weekend, I met with some lovely friends,  who also suffered the same fate of waiting, miscarriages, stillbirth and finally birth. I am reminded of how fortunate we all are in fulfilling our heart desires of becoming parents. I recognised that this is still a struggle and a dream for many.

As we sat chatting in celebration over the purchase of a house by one of us, a very beautiful house in a prime suburb: listening to the sounds of the kids running around screaming, the conversation came up about what we had been through.

The story began, from one to the other. I listened as we recalled some really gruesome tales of our ordeal.

I was amazed at how we were able to recall very intimate details and exact happenings of the losses we suffered.

Between the 3 of us, 17 babies were lost either through miscarriages, still birth and death. This was no small number, this was epic and painful to talk about. As we talked, we began to salute those who helped us along the way and the courage  of those still trying.

Today I want to salute everyone who is currently going through infertility, this is dedicated to you.

This post also highlights how we coped in the midst of going through one of the most trying periods of  our lives:

As we discussed it became obvious we had

  • the support of good friends and family,
  • our spouses and
  • our faith.

A strong support network of Good Friends: We recalled those who walked the road with us, friends who though did not face the same struggles non understood our pain, were a strong support, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen without judging us, a ready help. Those who sat with us while we waited at the hospital for another evacuation. Those who abandoned everything else at the news that we needed them. Their prayers, presence and love was strong enough to give us faith. On this national infertility week I salute you my friends.

Our spouses: while we struggled, while we waited, while pain ravages and friends leave, when faith weaver and hope hangs on a thread. Their presence, support, friendship, understanding and love was a constant.

We joked that God knew we couldn’t combine  this terrible fate in addition to having a spouse/partner who was not supportive. They listened when we made no sense. They saw us at our most vulnerable but loved us no less. It was a joint pain, it was a shared burden, we were never alone. Our spouses were a constant.

So on this national infertility week we salute our spouses, partners, those who were helpers on the journey through infertility.

Our Faith: faith was what carried us through those times when we felt like giving up, when we thought that we couldn’t carry on any longer. Faith saw us through. We had a picture of what we wanted and kept that in view. When we bled and buried our babies, faith was a strong force urging us to have another go. Faith was our anchor, our hope: faith that our bodies will do what it was meant to do, carry and birth a child.

Faith in God, in his infinite power to restore and make new again. We were not going to let anything take our faith away. We salute faith and the courage to keep trying every time we suffered a loss

You: I salute you my waiting friends, through teary eyes you look at the negative lines on the test strip and sob, but walked on with a strong resolve to keep trying. Through aching heart, you wondered when the tide will calm and the cloud lift for you to see your dreams birthed in the form of a child:

You who smiled through side comments and sarcastic remarks

You who watched helplessly as you bleed at the loss of another child

You who stood by the graveside to bury another sweet little baby

I salute your tenacity

Your hope,

Your zeal

Your resolve

Your strength

Your faith

Your courage

Here’s my encouragement to you today. Have faith in the process, though it may be tough right now, have faith in your ability, for faith never fails.

On this national infertility week I urge you to make faith your best friend. let it be your guide, your hope, your scour, your friend, your victory.

You may still be on this journey, and may just be hanging in there with the help of someone special, keep on holding on.

For some of you, your relationships may have fallen apart, friends may have left or grew weary of hearing the same story.

Let faith carry you to the finish line. Our story changed from pain and tears to, testimonies and laughter.

So I pray that you too will reminisce over the past with joy and peace.

I salute your faith, faithful friends, supportive partners/spouse, but above all, I salute you, as you faithfully wait.  

 

Your Friend and faithful Partner in Waiting

Other related post you may like: National Infertility Awareness Week., Unfair Generosity, The Pain of Miscarriage

 

D’Ebi

  

Resurected Hope 

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Picture the scene with me: here was a woman who has had several miscarriages, she has bleed countless number of times and as she lay bleeding the last time she screamed in agony “who will call me mother”. “Who will tug at my apron strings for waffles”

“Who will wave at me from the pack of excited kids at the Christmas carol choir concert?

“Who will make little Mother’s Day card with writing barely readable 

Who? Why? When?

Who will tell me pretend stories of monkeys, gorillas and Iguanas. She lay there sobbing and crying as she recalls her losses. 

When I am in distress I call you because you answer me. 

Losing a child through miscarriage or stillbirth, or other circumstances leaves a couple drained, confused and the future uncertain.

Today week we celebrate Easter, I wonder, how did the mother of Jesus felt losing her son. Mary must have been

distraught just as any other parent. 

His earthly parents felt helpless and hopeless, one minute they had a son, the next he was gone.

I am certain they experienced the pain of loss any parent would at the loss of a child. At the time it felt like all hope was gone, they couldn’t see past the present, their loss, pain and heartache had blurred every thought. They did not see 3 days later. 

This was how I felt when I lost my two precious babies to miscarriage. Having waited for a long time I finally had something to look forward to. I thought the wait was over, when I felt pregnant but the cruel hand of lost came and snatched my dream from me. 

I was elated at the news of my pregnancy, to finally be pregnant and be an expectant mum, felt like heaven to me.

And then came the bleeding, the pain and the aches. The why mes and the when. At that moment, I felt lost, helpless and hopeless. My world came crashing down. 

Back to Mary, she didn’t see the next 3 days, the miracle of resurrection and the hope life gives, she was consumed by her lost.

The gap between when her son, ‘The Saviour’ came back to life, was a blur. She couldn’t go about business as usual, hence she took it upon herself to anoint his body daily. 

At least she could do something with her time, she looked forward to the next day when she would anoint his body again, but it was another disappointment. He was gone again, taken away from her. Her one last shred of hope.

Nothing wrong in hanging on to hope and whatever reminds us of what we want and lost. Just like Mary we hang on, holding on to whatever may make us feel better. We live one day at a time.

Mary, was wrong he hadn’t been taken away from her again, he had come back to her, he had given her life, hope and reason to live again. Her son came back.

Our lost child may not resurrect like Jesus did, but we can have faith in the knowledge that we can start again, we have life and we can try again and dream again.

I waited for several years to fall pregnant, Only to suffer miss stages. I taught my number was up, my world caved in and my hope of being a mum was still a distant dream. 
We decided to give it another try and go for it again, and our resolve paid off, we now have 2 little girls, our tears turned to Joy, our sorrows a distant memory and the lost we suffered remembered without pain. 
My encouragement to you today.

Let the Easter story fill you with faith to believe and strength to carry on. The pain you feel from the loss you suffered will be stepping stones to a comeback.

You may have lost a child but let your hope come alive again, let it resurrect and fill you with faith to try again, to see beyond your lost. 

You too will some day experience joy and peace when your desires are reborn. I don’t know how it will be, but with God nothing shall be impossible. 

Easter gives us a hope and strength to keep trying, to trust, to have faith, and believe. 

  Happy Easter.

 

Celebrating Mothers Day

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It’s Mother’s Day here in the UK. For a very long time, I did not take part in any kind of Mother’s Day celebration. I avoided it like the plague… I just couldn’t bring myself to celebrate something I am not, yet so wanted to be.

I avoided going out, as the shops were often decorated with beautiful cards for mothers. Cards of every color adorned the store shelves with heart signs and shapes, depicting a child’s love for his or her mother.

On one occasion, I received flowers and a card from my husband. I was unhappy about this gesture. “I am not going to pretend that I am a mother,” I muttered under my breath. I was being realistic, calling it what it was.

“You know I don’t celebrate Mother’s Day. Why buy me a Happy Mother’s Day card?” I asked in a strained voice.

He just replied, “Open it,” and walked away. My husband is not my child; why should I be excited about receiving a card from him? I thought. The irrational thoughts of a childless woman—to me, nothing made sense anymore.

Later that day, I felt better enough to pick up the card, and I felt really, really stupid. On the front, “I Love You” was written boldly. This card celebrated me as a person, a friend, a human being, and a wife; it celebrated our union and our love.

My husband, a man of few words, wanted me to know that he loves me just as I am now—not for what I could be as a mother. Mother or not, I am somebody, not defined by my circumstances or the name badge of “mother.”

As Mother’s Day approaches, you too may be filled with dread as well-meaning friends, godchildren, and family celebrate their mums. You may want to crawl into bed and be invisible for the day because you don’t want the fuss.

I understand the feeling. I experienced many Mother’s Days without being a mother, and most of it was not by choice. I believe I truly received healing when I decided to stop being hurt by the mention of the word “mother” and started to take part in and enjoy the fun of it.

Those around you understand, too. Do not think your friends, family, or community do not care about you. Rest assured, they wish for you to enjoy the pleasures of being a mother, and they may show it in strange ways, like buying you flowers or cards, or taking you out on Mother’s Day.

Celebrate with them. It’s a joyous occasion, and besides, being happy doesn’t do anyone any harm; rather, it relieves the pressures and thoughts of one’s own struggles.

Celebrate who you are and who you are becoming through this process. You have been chosen to walk this path; it is tough, but celebrate your strengths. Celebrate because some were crushed by envy and jealousy, but here you are, still believing and holding on.

Celebrate the unique love your partner has for you. Celebrate the adversity which has made you both stronger.

After that incident with my husband, I decided I was going to enjoy Mother’s Day every year. I was a godmother, an aunty, and a mother-to-be. That qualifies me to celebrate.

I stopped dreading its approach and started to write cards to mothers whom I admire. You may not go as far as I did, but I encourage you to see yourself as what you want to be a mother, and be joyful in that knowledge. Know that even though you may not be a mother right now, you may be one someday.

My prayer for you is that:

* You will experience the pains of childbirth.

* You will nurse a child.

* You will feel the heartbeat of your child next to yours.

* You will feel the squeeze of tiny fingers holding yours.

* You will see the smiles of your child beaming at you.

* You will smell the scent of baby oil on their cheek.

* You will feel the tenderness of their look as they stare back at you.

* You will hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet as they trundle into your bed.

* You will cherish the warm, cuddly hugs of tiny hands around your neck.

* You will hear a little voice say, “Mama, I love you.”

Happy Mother’s Day.

D’Ebi

Your Partner in Hope

The Voice

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There is a popular singing contest on TV called the voice. If you are not familiar with the format let me educate you…

contestants perform in front of a live audience with 4 judges whose back are turned on them. The judges can only hear the contestant sing without seeing their face… they have to listen to their Voice, tune and melody of the songs to decide who goes through to the next round…

If a judge likes what he/she hears, they press a buzzer which indicates to the contestants that they are wanted by that judge. If more than one judge pushes the button, the contestant have to choose which judge to mentor them in the competition.

 

It is packed with excitements, emotions and disappointments. I like it when all the judge’s press their buzzer, leaving it up to  it is up to contestant to choose the judge they want to mentor them in the show.

Do you know we all listen to a voice? We tune our listening ear to its sound, weighting our decisions in light of “the voice”.

The Voice we contend with are often not as clear as the sound of music, sometimes they may be shrouded in other sounds buried in the daily chores which contends for our attention leaving us confused as to which choice to make.

For anyone who has suffered from infertility you will understand that there are so many voices we hear:

They could be the voice of your in-laws if you are married or in a relationship. “Voices” Begging and urging you to seek help.

while Inside you want to scream out loud

“I have sought help alright”,

“what more can I do?”

The voice of well meaning friends who constantly educate us on the latest medical intervention and how we should hurry up and get started.

The voice of your doctor.

The voice of your spouse

the voices of your family

The voices of friends

The voices of work colleagues and your own inner voice.

The voice we so desperately want to hear is the ‘Voice of The Lord’,

we wait, we try to discern it, we listen for it, we are sure we will press the buzzer and make the right choice if we know it’s His voice but, His voice is unclear or so it seems, amidst the other voices. We just can’t figure out which is His.

We cry out “Lord speak to me”.

I want to hear your voice…..

Silence greets us, we wait, we hope, we cry.


The infertile couple is faced with endless choice as time passes by, this adds to the confusion of not knowing which voice to listen for .

How to distinguish His Voice.

  1. His voice is distinct, amidst the many sounds we hear one thing is sure, his voice is distinct. His voice does not content with other voices because he is not the author of confusion. He is speaking and will continue to speak to us, to hear and distinguish his voice from others, ask him to teach you to listen…

  2. His voice is not forceful: He is not forceful or demanding, other voices can be demanding and forceful, but his is gentle and soothing, it brings peace. Because He is the Prince of Peace.

  3. His Voice is specific without being demanding or forceful: His word is clear about what he wants for us, that is specific and he will confirm His word to us by being specific.

  4. His voice is real: his voice is not  fake or concealed in other directives for you to discern his intention, no. He won’t leave you guessing because his intention is not to confuse you but to direct and guide you.

 

Have the other voices drown out the one true “Voice”?.

Are you tired of hearing many conflicting voices and just cannot discern which is the Father’s?

Listen for a distinct voice, one that is not forceful, but gentle, peaceful, with specific instructions from his word that is real.

His Voice brings peace and hope. If you press your buzzer for that voice, you know you are on the path to having your needs met.

Stay Still, wait, listen, and you will hear “His Voice”.

Your Partner in Hope

D’Ebi

 

Post that may interest you

Others View Point, Unfair Generosity, The “age” thing

 

Valentine’s Poem to My Unborn Child

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img_1960It was Valentine’s Day and we had planed to go see a movie, then the flow came and that changed everything. 

I was tired, I felt deflated. I was just tired. Why couldn’t it wait another day before showing up. I wanted a night with my hubby, without you flowing, a reminder of what we don’t have. 

That night I wrote this, cos I was tired of trying, of bleeding, of hoping, of waiting. I was just plain tired.

No one waits for this long with out wondering if it will ever happen, so if you are in that place of tiredness. You are not alone.

See your dreams fulfilled through this poem. Christmas and waiting::

Tired of losing you. 

This pain will not go away It lingers and grips with icy cold fingers.

I am filled with dread every time you delay.

Your flow is another reminder of loss so sad it hurt.

I am tired of losing you, again and again and again. A flow not wanted albeit still descended, reminder of another lost.  

Tired of losing you, each month of  flow announced by a twinge of pain.

I bleed externally and internally
My heart thorn in pieces I fear it will erupt in a thousand tiny places. My one true hope and desires lies on a red stained pad. 

 I wonder, what’s to become of you if you do stay. I am tired of losing you.

I hope you know I desire you so badly it hurts. I grieve the absence of you, manifested in a flow.

But look forward to the day when blood will cease and a kick I will feel.

Then I can embrace the dream of you becoming real to me. 

Like me you too maybe tired of losing flowing monthly.

But no matter what, Embrace who you are becoming through this process, stronger, better and bigger, a victor not a victim. 

Happy Valentine’s Day. 

 

 

Your Partner in Hope

D’Ebi

 

Other interesting link.

The “age” thing, Unfair Generosity, Avoid Depression , We are equals

Others View Point

Deboko2 Comments

The trying heart is full of questions. There was no single day I did not ask questions of myself, of others and of God.
Questions like: 

Why me? Yes we all ask that
What next?

How will this story end?

Will I ever become a mother?

Will I be able to handle life without a child? 

Who will call me moma? 

How do others see Me? This last question was once a constant thought on my mind.

At first it was a non-issue, I cared less what others thought of me, but as my time on the waiting mill continued and the knowing looks and side comments from others flowed in, I wondered: “what do they think of me” Barren, infertile, deserving of it? 

For the one trying the questions never ceases, at appointments, we are full of them, we throw numerous questions at our Doctor hoping for the answer we’ve been looking for. Hoping they will finally provide an explanation for our predicament.

We ask questions of ourselves and of others: because: 

  1. We want reassurance that our situation has a reason and that reason is not down to our faults or the faults of others: 
  2. We also want to find comfort in knowing that we are not thought of in a bad way. We want people to see us, not as victims of our situations. 

I will never forget the day I asked my husband what he thought of me. With an incredulous look on his face he answered with a question of his own “why would you ask that kind of question”, and went further to ask “has your view of me changed through this process”? Since we  it’s question time. 

He answered: I think you will make a great mum and I can’t wait to see that happen.You have been phenomenal in handling this situation, your resolve and faith inspires me. I believe you will come through a winner.

We want reassurance that our love ones still see us with the same eyes of love. 

 His answers were reassuring and genuine, but there is one whose view of us matters most to us: God: 

Question: So how do you think God sees you in terms of your situation? What do you think he thinks of you? 

  • Do you think he smirks when he looks at you When he hears you pray and ask for him to help you through  this phase? 
  • Do you think he sees you as a sinner who had that child aborted which makes you undeserving of a child now? 
  • Do you think that’s how the creator sees you? Unworthy to hold a baby of your own?

Sitting right where you are now reading this, pause and give this a thought. 
What’s been your view of God’s view of you. 
If it’s been one of unworthiness and undeserving? 
Let me enlightening you, whether you are a christian or not, you are deserving of having to hold your own little precious bundle of joy. 

As Christians we know that God loved us so much he GAVE His Son, His only Son for us on the cross. That is love, we were sinners and undeserving of that sacrifice but He Did it. 

If he gave up His Only Son for us, will he not also freely give us everything we desire? Yes He will. 
That’s my message to you today. He made that sacrifice for you, before infertility became the battle of your entire existence. His profession of love was in the form of a baby, how can he withhold you from holding your own baby?



God’s word is very clear on how he feels about you and what you are going through. Do not think for one second that your past has anything to do with your current situation, or that you are been punished for things you did do or did not do. 
God has unlimited capacity of love in his reservoir that no sin, past or present can extinguish or diminish. 
Be reminded that whatever your struggles of infertility are he rejoices over you with Singing and love. His desires for your will be realised. See his view of you in: Zephaniah 3:17 as I faced this struggle, one thing reassured me, that is His unfailing love for me. 

I am reassured that he sees me loved, whole, complete and sane. He died for me, he came for me, no infertility can change that. 

His view of me? I am special and worthy to die for, and worthy to be chosen to wait in faith. Yes, he knows why I have to go through this and when he has tried me I shall come forth as pure gold. Purified, refined and ready to be used for his glory. 

If you have struggled with God’s view of you, as you face infertility, realize you are worthy in His eyes.  
In time, your struggles  will be your cause for testimony. 

Rest, Hope, Believe. 

Your Partner in Hope: 
D’Ebi

New Again 

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It is a New Year, another year to hope and believe, to anticipate better things and to expect success as we look forward and begin afresh.

How do you explain to a 5 year old what a New Year is? My daughter knows the dates of the month, but has no concept of What a New Year is. She celebrated the dawn of 2017  by staying up late with us.

As we chorused ‘Happy New Year’ around the house my little girl ran up to me and said these words “Happy New You” mummy… I paused and asked her what she meant, she then went on to say, mom’, “we are new again”, it’s the new year…. 
Without thinking I responded yes we are new again… 

This got me thinking. 
New Again? That’s not how I felt, we grown ups know we grow older with each passing year. How am I New again?… this was definitely food for thought for me.The thought of growing older is more real to the couple trying to conceive, we all know that age is not on our side and each passing day without conceiving drives the point home.

Top of my New Year’s list during our trying days was my wish to be pregnant “Lord let this be my year”. It was my only request…. and that prayer went unanswered for 7 years 
I felt older each year….

I did not feel new again, I felt robbed of my youth, of not being able to carry a child in my prime. When will I become a mum? At one point I asked God to give me a child at a specific time to avoid going over a certain age…. still no baby…. 

How do you view the arrival of another New Year? Certainly Not New Again. You may have given up trying, hoping and praying, as your reservoir of hope runs out, you look forward without any real expectations.

“How? Where do we start from? You ponder. New Year, new hopes, same dream… still no result? 

My daughter’s statement reminded me of another statement “ he makes all things beautiful in his time” Let me encourage you to have fresh hopes, yes the years are rolling by, we all grow old and it may seem that you are aging faster than you would like…, you look into the Year and can’t seen to see your child…. but an aging womb…. 

Be encouraged “He Makes All Things New”.
See the future with fresh eyes of faith, let the Knowledge of the creator infuse you with fresh zeal and assurance. Believe for new faith to see beyond now to what will be. Let your faith bloom, like fresh flowers in spring time.

My daughter is right, ‘ We Are New Again’. New in our thinking, New in our actions, New in our friendships, and relationships. Renewed in our beliefs. New in what we choose to believe. New visions. 

Most of all we can be New in our spirit and soul. He make all things new including our dying eggs, yes he can recreate and create new ovaries or sperm. 

Do not let your zeal or faith grow cold for lack of results, yes you are New Again for He makes all things New…
Happy New Year.

The Possbilities of Christmas 

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Consider for a minute The angel who told Mary she was going to be the mother of the saviour of the word. A frightened teenage girl told such a news. How terrified do you think she was? Very terrified I imagine. 
I imagined she trembled in fear, not daring to look up at the angel who brought the news. I also imagine her look up as after he had finished speak and, summoning up courage asked “how will these things be?”

“How will I know?” That it will be as you have said? And to her surprise he answered… 

“And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God: Luke 1:36-37.
The angel told her a story of an impossibility or what man called impossible coming to pass… the angel pointed to her. “The God who did this for Elizabeth, will bring what I have said to pass.never-give-up

At which point she said “be it unto me according to your word… she believed… she didn’t needed a sign, jus some reassurance that the promise will be fulfilled.
Think about this for a minute God brought the miracle of Christmas to be by using a little girl… how pure, how holy and undefiled.. only a virgin birth will do. 
The significance of both story serves to remind us that no matter the situation, “with God nothing is impossible”. 

Have you really thought about this? An infertile woman and a little virgin girl being pregnant? Both were impossibilities to the human mind but not to Our Heavenly Father.

At this time of the year your heart may not be singing the Yuletide hymns as you watch all the fuss happening around you and think, what’s the point of celebrating when  another year is gone pass, without a baby of mine own.
Another nativity play, what’s the fuss? Your heart ache, as your womb yearn to feel the pangs of baby…

Your heart poured out to him as the Christmas carols rings out and you whisper : let this be my Christmas miracle Lord.. my Christmas gift of a child of my womb. 

Let me encourage you, the Christmas story is a reminder that nothing is impossible with God, your story is not impossible, your desires have been seen and a baby in your arms, in your home is not impossible… 
God has come to us so that through his Birth we can experience the miracle of Christmas in our own little way..

So this Christmas cheer up, let the story of Elizabeth and Mary reminds you that nothing is impossible With God. 

Merry Christmas.

Your friend and partner in hope

D’Ebi

 

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This is one of my favourite times of the year. Simply because I let my hair down, catch up with friends and family. However, this can also be a very challenging time for a woman In waiting. Churches, schools and offices put up shows to celebrate the birth of our saviour, for me, having to deal with the the questions that comes with not having a child of my own was just too much. 

Being a choir teacher meant that I was tasked with putting up a Christmas show for the kids whose ages are between 5-12. My time with these kids was precious, as I just loved seeing them flourish… but the remarks from their parents though well meaning, were mostly uncalled for. 

I took it as a real concern from them as I was a married woman without a child of my own yet here I was helping with the kids choir, to them, it is must be the most difficult of jobs, which it was. 

I understand their concerns and genuine care but for a woman trying I did not need to hear it every single week, especially at christmas.  So Christmas is the one time of the year where I dreaded being with my choir kids. I love my friends kids, nieces and nephews, and my choir kids, but I just wanted the questions and pitiful looks to stop. I wanted to enjoy the seasons without the talk of ‘don’t worry’ it will happen. 

To deal either this time and other festive periods I had to develop my own coping or surviving mechanism: 

Here are five ways I dealt deal with Christmas seasons:

  1. I smile: it’s as simple as that, though I hurt inside each Christmas I had to gather my choir kids and teach them their lines, I smile and have fun through it all… at gatherings I don’t bring up the topics but smile when brought up… smiling mask the pain I felt inside. I didn’t have to sit and listen to all the comments which were sometimes too personal, but I always smiled and excused myself if I have to. 
  2. I seek ways to have fun: Having tried to have a have a baby without success i became stronger as the wait continued,.. where once I would hide away and not take part any event like being a choir teacher, as I walked the road I made a decision do the things I love. I started fun with my friends.

    Thankfully I was blessed and still am with friends in similar situations and during Christmas ime and other festive periods we would go out to movies, theatres and just hang out. This took our focus off the situation. Being with the kids, was also a way of escape for me as always come away elated and blessed after every meeting. 

  3. Spend time with non judgmental love one: our families were incredible through it all: even though they were anxious for us to have a baby, not one word of worry or concern was spoken. We identified those families members who were our strongest supporters and whom we knew were praying with us and spent our holidays with them. They were our source of encouragement and though their support was unspoken it was felt every time we were with them. We were comfortable with them and their kids without the pressure of answering or keeping up appearances. 
  4. Do not avoid gatherings: No matter what, I decided i will enjoy Christmas, i always join the party, in church or at work, knowing life must go on… As a naturally fun person I refused to be beaten by infertility… so I joined celebrations like Carol and nativity services… 

  5. I reflected: To me Christmas is a time of reflection, so I reflected on the miracle of a child brought to us as a saviour, to mend our broken hearts, to bring us our own miracle and to heal our pain… so I reflected on this miracle while having faith for my own. 

So this Christmas don’t dread or fear, rather do hope and find a way to enjoy the season. Believe in the goodness of others that their concerns and remarks although sometimes not welcomed or sought for, is well meaning. Look to God who brought the miracle of Jesus via a virgin birth to bring you your own miracle child… and as you do Smile and be encouraged by the lyrics from Kirk Franklin’s song: Smile: 

This song’s for you

Today’s a new day, but there is no sunshine

Nothing but clouds, and it’s dark in my heart

And it feels like a cold night

Today’s a new day, where are my blue skies

Where is the love and the joy that you promised me

Tell me it’s alright
I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain

Fell from heaven like a shower
I smile, even though I hurt see I smile

I know God is working so I smile

Even though I’ve been here for a while

I smile, smile

It’s so hard to look up when you been down

Sure would hate to see you give up now

You look so much better when you smile, so smile
Today’s a new day, but there is no sunshine

Nothing but clouds and it’s dark in my heart

And it feels like a cold night

Today’s a new day, tell me where are my blue skies

Where is the love and the joy that you promised me

Tell me it’s alright
I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain

Fell from heaven like a shower now
I smile, even though I hurt see I smile

I know God is working so I smile

Even though I’ve been here for a while

I smile, smile

It’s so hard to look up when you been down

Sure would hate to see you give up now

You look so much better when you smile
Oh oh oh you look so much better when you

Oh oh oh you look so much better when you

Oh oh oh you look so much better when you

Oh oh oh you look so much better when you

Oh oh oh you look so much better when you