The holidays are a time of sharing, family, and friends. People near and far come together as one and celebrate the season. It is also a time when depression and anxiety come to an all-time high, especially for the woman who is experiencing infertility.
I was one of those women surrounded by everyone celebrating with their own children and families. Santa was coming down the chimney with a sleigh full of gifts for the littles to open on Christmas morning, and I was over here with many many childless Christmases, not having that opportunity to experience that joy of the holiday season. However, I did have one thing that I never let go of, and that was my faith. I knew that one day God would grant me the same, but until then, I would just continue with my infertility journey. It got to a point where I would just let go of the thought and enjoy what I had — Jesus, my husband, and my family.
Giving yourself a break during your infertility journey can be very helpful in many ways. There have been people who, when they stopped trying, it just happened to them. Or, like myself, I just thanked God in advance and prayed daily for the child I knew he would give us. I started to not stress and just hold onto my faith and started to enjoy the holiday and each and everything I had to be thankful for, knowing that once the holiday was over, I would get back to taking the meds, scheduling the appointments, doing the charting, and all the other stuff we do in hopes of getting those two pink lines.
The main thing that I realized, and by the age that I was blessed to have my first child at 49, is that no matter what you do or don’t do, it is all in God’s timing. So, enjoy the life that you are given, and the people who are a part of your life, and let go and let God, for Jesus is the reason for the season. When you stop and regroup, that gives you a chance to breathe and reflect on everything around you so that your mind, body, and soul are clear for when you are finally blessed with your miracle, you will not be so stressed. Prepare yourself to receive your blessing and enjoy yourself in the process. Give thanks, praise God, and enjoy all the festivities. Then get back on that horse and ride your infertility into the sunset and be strong for your time to come.