This book is for anyone who has suffered, is suffering or knows someone who is suffering with the loss of the dream of being a mother. Childlessness is not a topic that you will find a lot of resources dedicated to it, but this book definitely fills the gap. The author, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, does a beautiful job addressing the longing for motherhood. Whether you long for motherhood due miscarriages, barrenness, choices or circumstances, you will find comfort in the pages of this book.
The author does an excellent job focusing on hope and demystifying the often taboo subject of infertility and childlessness. Faith is interwoven throughout the book but not in a way that will leave you wondering if your faith is big enough or strong enough. Instead the focus is on hope and not necessarily hope that we will get our way and have our families look the way we dreamed of. God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He is sovereign. And one day we will see and understand the beauty of our sufferings. The care and faithfulness of God does not change. This book will leave you in a better place, knowing you are not being punished, nor are you alone.
Grief, sorrow and the grieving process is not often talked about in depth – especially when it comes to longing for motherhood. Mrs. Sobolik does a beautiful job sharing her grief, the ugliness of it, the beauty, the sadness, the necessity of it. She shares many things for friends, family and the church to do to support women (and men) who are suffering with the loss of a child or the loss of the dream to be a parent. These include: praying for them, supporting them in their grief (no matter how long the process takes), learning how to ask helpful questions, avoiding the use of the word of God as a quick fix, not making assumptions about their faith, and being present to name a few.
I also love how she shares that although motherhood may not look how you imagined, biologically speaking, you can still live out the longing to mother – through adoption, mentoring, fostering, or within our communities or families. And, your childlessness should not be wasted. God can use anything and everything to bring glory to Him. Though most would not choose childlessness, if that is your cross to bear in life, when you allow God to use your suffering to serve others and draw them unto Him, He will.
This book does not offer a special prayer to pray to get God to bless you with a child. It does not offer ways to increase your faith so that you believe more and in turn receive your blessing. It offers realness. It speaks the truth in love. It offers hope and Hope in Christ does not disappoint.
Please read this book if you are suffering or if you know someone who is suffering with infertility, barrenness,or prolonged singleness (desiring to be married to have a family)…it will surely bless your soul and leave you with hope that will never put you to shame.