Today, I’m taking part in Five Minute Friday with Kate Motaung! The word prompt is notice, which works perfectly for what I’ve been talking about on the blog this week.
I’m the kind of person who keeps my feelings wrapped up. If I’m working through something you probably won’t notice. Sometimes, this is appropriate because I need to work through my emotions and allow God to deal with the tears of my soul before I bare them to everyone else.
However, there are other times when I recognize that what I’m dealing with has the potential to help someone. I spent 15 years of my life fighting a battle with miscarriage, stillbirth, and secondary infertility. At the beginning, though a few family members and close friends knew, I hid it from others.
it’s heartbreaking that so many women are living trapped inside the silence of pregnancy loss. I wrote a book entitled Nothing to Hold but Hope. It is my memoir and tells the story of my journey. I’m working on collecting information for a book club with the goal of helping other women to peel their layers of pain to not only promote healing in them, but also to communicate that no matter where they are in the process, they can help others to heal as well.
Every story is layered with beauty no matter how ugly it makes us feel. Choose to share hope! (Tweet that)
I’ve been sharing a survey that is helping me connect with other women who are ready to tell their stories regarding pregnancy loss. And even the women who aren’t ready to share are making their feelings known. If you have ever experienced pregnancy loss, would you be willing to answer some questions? If so, you can click here.
Beginning in the new year, we will be sharing our stories via, Vlogs, Podcast, and the written word. Together, we are going to break the silence and stomp all over the shame that has no place in our journeys!
Happy Friday, friends! May the Joy of the Lord be your strength today!
Love,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Your words have carried me through and gave me hope when I was at my lowest…and when I say lowest, I mean rock bottom. I felt the pain, but would not let myself grieve until I read your posts re: your own losses. Your courage gave me the strength to tell other women I trusted that this broken place existed. I felt badly at the time because God has blessed me with so much and I felt it was ungrateful to Him if I mourned the loss. But He showed me that I needed to trust that it was ok to be vulnerable with Him and others in order to start the healing process. I won’t lie…it is still hard. I still count the years and think of birthdays.
When something is your heart’s desire and God says “no” or “wait” it can rattle your faith. But His wisdom exceeds mine by a long shot. There is beauty, it just may mean that some days I have to look a little harder for it. I thought of sending this personally to you via email, but then I thought that it might help another woman to know they aren’t alone. Thank you Jennifer for bringing this hard subject to light. I bought your book when it first came out and haven’t been brave enough to read it. Now seems like the right time. Blessings.
Veronica, Your words to me are always so kind and beautiful.Thank you for sharing your heart with me! I pray for you often and would love to hear more of your story. I’m going to be sending you an email after the holiday. Be blessed, friend! Thank you!