My First Mother’s Day

 

An odd title, you may be thinking. Aren’t you in your late thirties? Well, yes. But today is my first Mother’s Day as a mother. My child may still be young enough to be aborted in Mississippi under the law under review in Dodd, but I am finally a member of the sorority stretching back to Eve.

I won’t spout any cliches about how “it’s only when you stop trying that it happens.” For the person desperate to be a parent, that offers no comfort whatsoever. I will say that when you accept that children are a gift from God that He simply doesn’t give everyone without that lack of a gift being a comment on your worthiness as a person (if the rain falls on the just and the unjust, so does the drought), that a childless life can still be one of meaning and purpose — when you can achieve that level of spiritual enlightenment and release, then the marriage bed can be freed from the sorrow, guilt, betrayal, despair, and pain that made it a mockery of its intended purpose. As much as every barren tear over the last decade scourged my heart as they carved their way into wrinkles around my eyes and bleached my brown hair silver, I can’t deny that they made me a better person, one who has a much better grasp of what is and isn’t in my control. 

As I’ve mentioned before, we simply cannot choose life. We can be as open to it as possible, willing to preserve and protect it with every ounce of our strength, but in the end, we are as impotent to command it as Job, who cannot tell bridle the behemoth. Becoming the shelter for this mystery has only made me more aware of just how miraculous, how precious, how awe-inspiringly magical the creation of a new person from two cells truly is. 

Published in Marriage
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  1. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    I hope I may say, WOOHooo!  Congratulations to you.  I’m smiling big for you as I type this.

    • #1
  2. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    I am so pleased to hear your news!!!

    • #2
  3. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I’m so very happy for you, Amy. Many blessings to all of you.

    • #3
  4. GLDIII Purveyor of Splendid Malpropisms Reagan
    GLDIII Purveyor of Splendid Malpropisms
    @GLDIII

    I guess I no longer have to keep this a secret.

    • #4
  5. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Yes! Awesome! Great!

    • #5
  6. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    You mean my prayers worked?

    Hot da … errr … thanks, God!

    • #6
  7. She Member
    She
    @She

    Wonderful news, Amy!

    • #7
  8. Scott Wilmot Member
    Scott Wilmot
    @ScottWilmot

    Congratulations. Happy Mother’s Day

    • #8
  9. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Oh Amy, I type with tears in my eyes. I am so happy. Praise God. Prayers right now for it all to be smooth.

    Linda also says congratulations. 

     

    • #9
  10. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Congratulations, Amy. What wonderful news! All the best to you and Chef and the tiny person.

    • #10
  11. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Congratulations!

    And Happy Mother’s Day!

    • #11
  12. Hang On Member
    Hang On
    @HangOn

    Best of luck. Hope all goes well. 

    • #12
  13. DrewInWisconsin, Oik! Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik!
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Congrats, Amy! Great news!

    • #13
  14. DrewInWisconsin, Oik! Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik!
    @DrewInWisconsin

    • #14
  15. Quietpi Member
    Quietpi
    @Quietpi

    Amy! Praise the Lord! This Mothers’ Day just became even more special. We’re in Portland for the baptism of our new granddaughter. This won’t be the only family I’ll be praying for this morning! Prayers of thanksgiving and for health.

    • #15
  16. GLDIII Purveyor of Splendid Malpropisms Reagan
    GLDIII Purveyor of Splendid Malpropisms
    @GLDIII

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik! (View Comment):

    Congrats, Amy! Great news!

    I was trying real hard to not spill those beans.

    She called a few weeks ago with the news. Even after a very long call, by the time I hung up I was still so excited I could not sleep that night. This was indeed on my short list of items I was praying for since since we met many years ago. I knew that motherhood was such a wonderful and important goal Mr & Mrs Amy.

    I hope to be around long enough to occasionally her spoil her children. No sense confining it to just my offspring, not that I am pressuring them (but quietly saying it while not in their presence).

    • #16
  17. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    The world is a brighter place today.  Congratulations, Amy.

    • #17
  18. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    Congratulations Amy. I wish you all the best of health and loving life for your family.

    • #18
  19. Katie Koppelman Coolidge
    Katie Koppelman
    @KatieKoppelman

    Congratulations Amy! 😃👶🎉

    • #19
  20. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    Congratulations and praise the Lord, the author life. I’m so glad you have been the recipient of this blessing.

    I’ll pray for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery.

    • #20
  21. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    May the Lord bless you, your family, and all of your descendants.

    • #21
  22. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    WOWIEE!!!! That is such FANTASTIC news!!!!

     

    YAY!!!!

    • #22
  23. tigerlily Member
    tigerlily
    @tigerlily

    Congrats Amy & Chef!

    • #23
  24. Some Call Me ...Tim Coolidge
    Some Call Me ...Tim
    @SomeCallMeTim

    Congratulations. When is the due date, if you don’t mind sharing?

    • #24
  25. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Congratulations Amy! Wonderful news!!

    • #25
  26. Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker Coolidge
    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker
    @AmySchley

    Some Call Me …Tim (View Comment):

    Congratulations. When is the due date, if you don’t mind sharing?

    I should have a date by next Friday, but mid to late November is the time frame. 

    • #26
  27. EB Thatcher
    EB
    @EB

    Very happy for you!

    • #27
  28. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    Congratulations, Amy.

    • #28
  29. Some Call Me ...Tim Coolidge
    Some Call Me ...Tim
    @SomeCallMeTim

    Amy Schley, Longcat Shrinker (View Comment):

    Some Call Me …Tim (View Comment):

    Congratulations. When is the due date, if you don’t mind sharing?

    I should have a date by next Friday, but mid to late November is the time frame.

    Thanks.  We will keep you in our prayers for the duration.  

    • #29
  30. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Beautiful news! Thanks for sharirng this delightful news with us. God bless you and yours. 

    • #30
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