tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post6438205649124256024..comments2024-03-14T05:02:02.772-04:00Comments on Conceiving Hope: Litany of PlatitudesConceiving Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03770621765962940873noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-57274814464861786632015-04-25T16:17:50.947-04:002015-04-25T16:17:50.947-04:00I wish I had discovered the Litany of Humility at ...I wish I had discovered the Litany of Humility at the beginning of our IF journey. It might have made things very different for us. Really, really, really difficult to pray. But each time I do, I feel God really sucking the pride and pain right out of me. Thank you for reading along, friend. I'm praying for your journey and really enjoying your blog, in case I haven't said that lately! <3Conceiving Hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770621765962940873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-50920113598944599852015-04-25T16:15:44.446-04:002015-04-25T16:15:44.446-04:00It's so hard in the early days of IF to focus ...It's so hard in the early days of IF to focus on your own health, isn't it? For us, we were forced to because my hormonal and reproductive health were so poor. I think it's easy to get tunnel-baby-vision though! I was very happy to read how your own journey through IF has gone, friend. Prayers to you in this great season of change, that God would allow you to feel His blessings as you navigate unfamiliar waters now and ahead! <3Conceiving Hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770621765962940873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-28243482700166105932015-04-25T16:13:06.567-04:002015-04-25T16:13:06.567-04:00I agree that when coupled with an action to pray, ...I agree that when coupled with an action to pray, I take a lot less issue with that particular platitude. That said, I think I've reached the end of letting people try to make sense of the non-sensical out loud. It's not a "giving" action, it's much more a selfish action. Think about it - "I can't make this better, so I'm going to say something to try and smooth it over and force a resolution that makes me feel better, even if it doesn't fix their problem." That's how I read platitudes now...as a way for people to eschew the call to suffer with people.<br /><br />I think learning authentic compassion is what we're missing as a culture. And I totally agree with you that the half-stories from aging celebrities is part of the problem at hand now. Women AND men need to realize that family life, for all of time, never depended on being stable in your career or having a Pottery Barn house. The change in values and goals is so stark, isn't it??<br /><br />Friend, I agree that it's not easy to accept humility and suffering. I hope we can all find ways to use it for good as well. Conceiving Hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770621765962940873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-85789837608152708572015-04-25T16:08:34.045-04:002015-04-25T16:08:34.045-04:00It is amazing the consistency with which people of...It is amazing the consistency with which people offer this advice to infertile women. Even hearing that my own experience hasn't been terribly unique is an eye-opener to what is culturally happening. So glad you appreciated the Litany of Humility. Prayer really is one of the only comforts in this journey.<br /><br />I definitely prayed for your parish's Mass for Infertile Couples. What a beautiful gift that was from your priest. Thank you for offering that Mass up for all who read here and blog about this cross. I continue to keep your own intentions in my prayers. Hugs to you, Casey. <3 Conceiving Hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770621765962940873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-86294354648919122632015-04-25T16:05:30.333-04:002015-04-25T16:05:30.333-04:00So glad it was received well. I know that people l...So glad it was received well. I know that people likely expected me to take a different approach here, but I really feel like the perfection of that Litany of Humility is more an answer for the infertile heart than anything else I've found to date. It's such a hard road to walk, but I certainly walk it with you friend.Conceiving Hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770621765962940873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-37084984011930067322015-04-24T16:25:45.746-04:002015-04-24T16:25:45.746-04:00I discovered the Litany of Humility years ago and ...I discovered the Litany of Humility years ago and it has been such a saving grace. it really is difficult to pray but sooooo good! Great suggestions for us all to pray! Kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13670331855264293102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-21247905559395012062015-04-24T09:52:12.213-04:002015-04-24T09:52:12.213-04:00"And most of us aren't just doing it for ..."And most of us aren't just doing it for a baby. We're trying to improve our health first and foremost. We didn't choose this path. We didn't choose to be sick. We didn't choose our infertility."<br /><br />Amen! Thankfully I've only ever received a handful of the platitudes mentioned--mostly because I kept our struggle to myself and didn't want to share it with anyone but a few (helpful, too, since we were a new couple in a new town). Throughout our treatments, my primary prayer was for increased health, and if we're blessed with a baby, fantastic! But, as I like to quote from my favorite movie, "If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything."<br /><br />Thank you for sharing this as part of your series--and for the reminder of the Litany of Humility. Matt Maher and Audrey Assad (each) have beautiful renditions of it on their albums.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17770044089062437286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-65573322628009341412015-04-24T09:12:13.849-04:002015-04-24T09:12:13.849-04:00Depending on who it's coming from, I don't...Depending on who it's coming from, I don't necessarily mind the "I know it'll happen for you!" that much, since it's clearly intended to hopeful and encouraging. (Doesn't necessarily work, but when coupled with "I'm praying for you," it can be comforting.) While I have problems with the "you shouldn't have put your career first," it is coupled to a real problem of many women not being aware of the link between age and fertility. It's stupid and hurtful to say it to someone experiencing IF, but as an overall culture, I think there is a need for people to be more aware of it. (All the celeb articles about so-and-so having babies in their late 40s or 50s don't help, especially since it's never made clear that it's not their eggs.) Personally I get most annoyed with the assumptions about having money, time, peace, etc and if I got the "Maybe God doesn't want you to have kids," I would probably not react charitably. <br /><br />It's certainly not easy to be humble and accept suffering, but hopefully we can all find ways to use it. Stephanie Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08435698159183117354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-42135049871728543342015-04-24T08:23:35.214-04:002015-04-24T08:23:35.214-04:00I've heard a decent number of those platitudes...I've heard a decent number of those platitudes myself (although thank the sweet Lord I've never received any of those "offers"!). Sometimes I have to try really hard to remember that the people probably really do mean well and are just ignorant.<br />I've always loved the Litany of humility. It's very beautiful and VERY hard to pray. Thanks for the reminder!<br />Prayers are so important! At my request, my parish priest agreed to celebrate a Mass for Infertile Couples this evening. I'll be offering my Mass for all the sweet folks in the infertile blogging community tonight. Please keep me in your prayers as well. :)Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17033904844103853773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163335514133767892.post-65720465555833619852015-04-24T01:03:30.967-04:002015-04-24T01:03:30.967-04:00The first half was hard to read, both of the litan...The first half was hard to read, both of the litanies really, but your point with the litany of humility is true, that is something I need to take to heart. Thanks for the second half of the article too, that is such a poignant way of addressing the platitudes. Tomatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14874825476590035544noreply@blogger.com