All for His glory

I drove to Buffalo, NY last night so that I could attend my friend's baby shower. She and her husband struggled with infertility for quite sometime and during the times they lived in South Bend, the two of us would get together to talk, listen, and drink Margaritas to commiserate. Their pregnancy is a beautiful miracle and I was so happy to be able to make the 7 hour drive to celebrate with them. It's the first baby shower I've been able to make in quite awhile and I was so thankful to have the emotional strength to go. Praise God for this little one, due in about 6 weeks.

Two of the most constant challenges I have with our journey through infertility are surrender and trust. Learning that instead of trying to get rid of this cross, I am better to surrender myself to the will of God the Father and trust Him and His plans. Sometimes I am tempted to feel abandoned...forgotten...overlooked by God and I ask "Why do we have to go through this?", but inevitably God sends me some little sign that He has not abandoned me, forgotten me or overlooked me. His consolation today came in the form of a prayer that my friend had on her dresser in her bedroom. I loved it so much I copied it into my journal and chose to share it here. I pray it will inspire you and encourage you as it has me.

God has created me to do Him some definite service.

He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.

I have my mission: I may never know it in this life, but shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work.

Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.

If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him.

If I am in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him.

If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.

My sickness or perplexity, or sorrow may be some necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us.

He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life. he may shorten it; He knows what He is about.

He may take away my friends, he may throw me among strangers, he may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me -- still he knows what He is about.

~ John Cardinal Newman

Meditations and Devotions