I use to hold back from sharing about our infertility struggles because I feared that everyone would think it was their job to give us words of wisdom and advice. Or that they’d even compare us to others and judge how good or bad our situation was. I didn’t want to deal with that pain of disappointment, and I felt too sensitive and weak to withstand those types of words. Heck I felt even less capable of being able to see their comments through a lens of love. (Which I knew I should try to because most people who do that don’t lack love, but empathy.)

I didn’t want pity or advice, but instead a safe place to share my heart and find community. (isn’t that what we all crave?) Yet fear was holding me back. (isn’t that what always stands in our way?)

Now that I have opened up about aspects of infertility and what we’ve been going through, I have realized how much bigger those fears were in my head than the actual reality of words-lacking-empathy have been. even if someone does say something I find hurtful it doesn’t matter, because the understanding eyes, the listening ears, and the open hearts I’ve received from so many completely outweigh and outnumber any negative.

God has taught me so much about fear vs. courage through this. About grace, healing, and patience. It’s all been so incredibly worth it.

I am thankful for each of you who have checked in on me these past few months. For those that have given me the gift of hearing your own stories. For those that have given my heart that safe place to land that it needed. Whatever you’re going through, I can say with certainty that it’s worth sharing with others, even if it’s just one person. It may not make your load weigh any less, but it’ll give you extra hands to help carry it. 

– Sara-Lane