The Other Side of Barrenness Part One

My husband, Sunny, and I were married for a year before we began 'trying' to conceive a child. Of course, we naively assumed we would get pregnant right away and our little family would begin growing. Five was the number for us. We were going to have five and that was that...only 'that was that' didn't turn out at all like we'd planned.

We weren't too worried at first, and, after beginning to study and ask questions, we realized that sometimes it does take a little time. So we...ummmm...'did our thing' at the appropriate times just like the books suggested and waited...and waited...and waited! And prayed...and prayed...and prayed! Months passed, then several years.

{I will insert here that there is a gamut of emotions a woman goes through when she struggles with infertility, the biggest one being feelings of inadequacy as a woman. Totally normal feelings.}

After a couple of years of being unable to conceive, I began having feelings of resentment towards God--why have You passed me by? towards other moms--do you always have to talk about your kids? and even towards my husband--what? you're too tired tonight?!! (Oh, that's the woman's line, right?!)

Then one day as I was praying, the Lord so tenderly and graciously spoke to my heart. He is such a God of Hope, isn't He? Psalm 128 came to my mind. When I opened the Bible to this passage, I knew it was the Lord encouraging me. Verses 3 and 6 especially spoke to me:

"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house, thy children like olive plants around about thy table...  Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel."

Of course, I thought that meant WAM! BAM! BOOM! I was going to get pregnant next month! I wrote that down and stuck it on my fridge.  However, it didn't happen that way...BUT...I decided this time, I wasn't going to wallow in self-pity or get resentful towards anyone, especially my God. I was going to believe what He had promised and leave the timing up to Him.

It still took another couple of years. One day, we decided to go ahead and begin seeking out a fertility specialist. We weren't exactly in a position financially to go the whole route medically, but we thought at least we could get the ball rolling. We were living in northern Texas at the time. The closest fertility clinic was Oklahoma City and appointments were six weeks or so out.

Little did I know that as I was making that appointment I was PREGNANT! HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY! How excited I was to be able to call back a few weeks later and tell them we wouldn't be needing their services thankyouverymuch!

At home on November 30, 1987, and after five and a half years of 'trying' our Chelsie Jo was born. She was born on her paternal great-grandparents 62th wedding anniversary at the very hour they were married!  She was in the making 62 years before!

Chels is 20 now. She has been such a joy in our lives and such a love for the Lord, it amazes me!  We are so thankful for God's blessing to us!

It's All CHELSIE Good!