Here are a few links:
How To be A Good Friend To an Infertile
Infertility Etiquette
For Family and Friends
How Can I Help. The Dos and Don'ts of Support
The Empty Arms Video Link is good too.
Also, the Hannah's Hope book by Jennifer Saake is REALLY good.
2 comments:
These are great resources. Thanks! I'm always looking for things to pass along!
M, this is great. THANK YOU for placing this for us to read. I've been through this and forget myself what it means to minister to those in pain. I need the reminder!
When I went through my IF/PL journey, I was confounded on how to heal. Family attempts to comfort were well-meaning, but more often than not caused additional pain. They had never been in my shoes, they never understood the magnitude of the pain, and were quick to point the finger BACK at me, as if it were my fault. I guess the way I expressed or handled my grief wasn't the appropriate way for them. I was "supposed" to handle it differently. (I didn't know there were rules! Oops. Sorry!) Funny realization now though...most of those people that criticized and gossiped on how badly I handled things were making MY journey about THEM. It wasn't. It was mine and the Lords. I choose to believe the Lord will deal with them in His own time.
Also, I have had some tell me if they'd known WHAT to do, they'd have done it. Those that just said, "I have no idea what to say. How can I pray for you and minister to you?" were the ones that made the most impact. So now, I try to remember that when I find my friends going through ANY type of grief, infertility related or not. To not have expectations of them and just attempt to sit back and witness what God does in their lives, as I try to help them carry the burden. THAT choice in itself is a blessing!
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