*** Edited NOVEMBER 7TH, 2014 to reflect updated information about upcoming meeting on friday, february 6, 2015! This post was originally published on March 26, 2014.***
“I have learned now that while those who speak about one’s miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more.” -C. S. Lewis
I ran across the above quote from C. S. Lewis recently and it really spoke to me. I was looking for a little guidance/inspiration on starting the support group that The Lord laid on my heart to start for women who have had difficulty getting pregnant, staying pregnant, or who have lost a child that made it to earth but was taken to Heaven shortly after his/her arrival. I know that finding friends who have been through similar journeys has been such an encouragement to me!
The Lewis quote made me think back on sharing our own journey through heartache and loss and what a BLESSING it was to lay it all out, despite my fear and despite the months-and-months-long procrastination of speaking up. It was our prayer that once we published our story that maybe just one person who read what we’d been through with our miscarriage would be touched. I feel like our prayer was answered, and I’m so thankful for the new friendships that have come from this difficult time in our lives.
But I know we’re all different. We are not all called to share our stories with the world. Some people are great with sharing and great with coaching others through hard times. Others just prefer to stay quiet and keep their troubles between themselves and God. And yet others are somewhere in the middle! God made us all different for a reason!
Whatever sort of sharer you are, if you’ve been through the difficulty of infertility or child loss, I invite you to join me and a group of other gals who have been through similar experiences on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH AT 6 P.M. (location TBD) for the fourth installment of Those Who Speak, which is a quarterly meeting! It’ll be a great evening of making new friends, noshing a little, and just enjoying the company of others who remind us that we are not alone!
I know, come February 6th, some will talk more than others, and some will speak with presence only and without many words. The beauty of this group is that we can all benefit from coming together for a casual night of company with our peers who can relate to what we’re going through, whether we are there to let it all out and find a new outspoken best friend, or we are there to just listen, be encouraged by the stories of others, and meet new people.
I know many of you who I’ve talked to over the last couple of months who have also experienced miscarriage, pregnancy issues, and child loss have since been blessed with healthy pregnancies and beautiful babies! I invite all of you to come too! Hearing your stories is so encouraging!
At Those Who Speak, I want to encourage and to be encouraged. I want to pray for and to be prayed for. I want us to be iron sharpening iron. I think it’ll be great!
If you’re on the fence about coming, please be in prayer about whether or not it’s something you think God is leading you to attend. I know it’s not within everyone’s comfort zone and I completely respect that! If there are any questions I can answer, please feel free to email me or leave a comment!
And please feel free to share this below image with anyone you think might would enjoy coming to this group with you. The more the merrier!
I feel what you are doing is wonderful. My husband and I lost our first child, a daughter, to a heart defect over 37 years ago. You never get over the loss. I still miss her every day. We do learn how to continue living. I look forward to seeing my daughter again in heaven one day. We now have three more beautiful children and a precious little 4 year old granddaughter. God bless you! ( I always wanted to start a group for parents who had lost a child way back then. For some reason, I didn’t. I still wish I had. That is why I say what you are doing is wonderful!)
Thank you Sandi! And thanks for sharing about your loss. Isn’t such a wonderful thing to know that you will see your baby girl again one day?! 🙂 I love that! If you want to come to the group, you are more than welcome to! Seriously, the more the merrier! And the more types of stories and points of view we have, the better too! 🙂 But no pressure! 🙂
Thanks again for commenting! God bless!
Will you be hosting another event? I did not know about this one until after the fact.
Hey Kenley! YES! We decided to do it quarterly so the next one will be either July 26 or August 2. Once a date is nailed down, I’ll definitely post about it! 🙂 I hope you can come!!! It was great last time!
Can’t wait for next Friday. xoxo