Not childless.

One of the strangest things to get used to these days is that we are no longer defined as the couple who can't have children. No matter what, we have been blessed with a little life. As I mentioned before, we have a lot of friends and acquaintances who have not had this blessing and who would like to. We pray for them daily.

I remember so vividly when a friend would become pregnant. You are so genuinely happy for them, and yet it also causes you a degree of pain because you have not been able to. Does it sound silly to say that I never want to forget what that was like? I really don't. There are so many who haven't had children, and many assume it is because they don't want to. The nicest thing a minister's wife said to me at the feast last year was, "Do you not have children because you don't want them, or because you can't have them?" Just the phrasing of that question made the world of difference between bracing to answer the question so the asker does not feel badly for asking, and being able to answer her openly, and sharing with her our story. It was a gift in a question. I am thankful for that gracious gift.