Karen, this is so beautiful and true and good. And it makes me think about how vital it is that we have intergenerational relationships in the church and invite each other into our lives. Thank you for this! ❤️
Karen, this is absolutely beautiful! Though I have children and grandchildren, I walk closely with friends who have struggled with infertility, and or kids chose not to have kids, lots of disappointed dreams.. Even in my own family, It doesn’t look exactly as I thought it would. I have always felt strongly about investing in younger generations where God has put people in my path. In that sense, I often spend time with kids who for whatever reason, their parents are unavailable. I love the body of Christ, and Jesus who fills the gaps always. Thank you for this article. I will pass this on to so many people.
I can't imagine. One of our adult kids is struggling with infertility and we can't grasp what they are going through. They often come to mind as we walk and pray, but we rarely have words. Thanks for writing about your journey.
Karen, I have been feeling this lately. My eldest sibling, who is just five years older than I, became a grandmother a couple of weeks ago. I am delighted to have a grand-niece, just as I am delighted to be an aunt, but it also hurt. While I am a good aunt - at least, my nieces and nephews seem to think so - I think I would have been a good mother and grandmother too.
Karen, this is so beautiful and true and good. And it makes me think about how vital it is that we have intergenerational relationships in the church and invite each other into our lives. Thank you for this! ❤️
Karen, this is absolutely beautiful! Though I have children and grandchildren, I walk closely with friends who have struggled with infertility, and or kids chose not to have kids, lots of disappointed dreams.. Even in my own family, It doesn’t look exactly as I thought it would. I have always felt strongly about investing in younger generations where God has put people in my path. In that sense, I often spend time with kids who for whatever reason, their parents are unavailable. I love the body of Christ, and Jesus who fills the gaps always. Thank you for this article. I will pass this on to so many people.
Thank you, Kathleen. For this and for the way you live your life.
I can't imagine. One of our adult kids is struggling with infertility and we can't grasp what they are going through. They often come to mind as we walk and pray, but we rarely have words. Thanks for writing about your journey.
Karen, this was a bittersweet essay to read, and was probably a bit of that to write as well. Thank you for the perspective you added at the end...
"You look to Jesus, the Son of Man, who instead of having children made us God’s children.
You look to Jesus, and you determine to be more like him.
You seek, by God’s grace, to have children of the faith who will then someday have their own children of the faith, for generation upon generation."
Amen.
Thank you for such kind words, Jody.
Karen, I have been feeling this lately. My eldest sibling, who is just five years older than I, became a grandmother a couple of weeks ago. I am delighted to have a grand-niece, just as I am delighted to be an aunt, but it also hurt. While I am a good aunt - at least, my nieces and nephews seem to think so - I think I would have been a good mother and grandmother too.
I am sorry, Holly. I see you. 🤍
Beautiful essay Karen.
There is another case, which I think about because both my brothers had a daughter later in life, past the usual age of fertility for women.
Our daughter was born when I was 25. She had her first child when she was 34 and is expecting her second this fall when she'll be 36.
I hope my wife and I have many years with our grandchildren. I'm 62; my wife is 61.
But if my brothers' daughters have their first child at age 34, one brother will be 78 and the other brother 84. I'm sure they've done the math.
That’s a whole other layer, isn’t it, David. Thanks for offering these dynamics.
It's so helpful, Karen, so helpful.
Thank you, Richard.