{"id":857,"date":"2024-03-13T11:41:26","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/hopejoylife\/?p=857"},"modified":"2024-03-13T11:41:26","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:41:26","slug":"discovering-faith-filled-support-on-your-fertility-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/hopejoylife\/2024\/03\/discovering-faith-filled-support-on-your-fertility-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering Faith-Filled Support On Your Fertility Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/h1>\n

Christian Couple Woes<\/span><\/h1>\n With infertility becoming less of a taboo subject, more people are speaking out about their experience with infertility and building their families through <\/span>Assisted Reproduction Technologies<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(ART),\u00a0<\/span>adoption<\/span><\/a>, and\u00a0<\/span>third-party reproduction<\/span><\/a>. Religious leaders are often very respected figures in their communities. Whether they realize it or not, they can often play a role in supporting and educating followers about the infertility experience as it relates to their faith.<\/span><\/p>\n Many of us who struggle with this issue might think of turning to our religious leader for comfort or encouragement, unfortunately, the words we have often heard back from them are less than reassuring. Many couples say that their faith communities are the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>least<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>safe place when it comes to their fertility woes \u2014 a place that regularly hosts child-oriented rituals and ceremonies and that celebrates Mother\u2019s Day and Father\u2019s Day, elevating the stories of biological parenthood above all others.<\/span><\/p>\n The Statistics\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n** ** **From Pew Research of adult respondents 55% of Catholics, 48% of Protestants, and 44% of white evangelicals have used fertility treatments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s Wrong With Seeking Fertility Help?<\/span><\/h2>\n***** ** <\/p>\n ** God created everything for a reason. My faith teaches me that God created medicine and Doctors to assist us when our prayers are not enough. Unfortunately, some faith leaders believe couples who visit fertility clinics are \u2018playing God.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n ** Another issue is some faith leaders believe introducing a surrogate into the relationship to carry the child or use donor sperm or eggs is committing adultery.<\/span><\/p>\n ** *****These statements and beliefs can be damaging, not just for the couple, but the congregation.<\/span><\/p>\n How Should The Church Approach Infertility\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n***** ** <\/p>\n ** A more compassionate response is the way to go when discussing such a sensitive topic. As a Church community, we should put ourselves in their shoes, realize how difficult these decisions are, and support the couple\u2019s choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ** We should be encouraging, as well as referring them to faith leaders experienced in this topic, to help them explore God\u2019s perspective on their journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ** *****Dear God,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Help us to be compassionate to those who struggle to have children. Let us remember you created Physicians for the sole purpose of helping us through our health battles. Whether that be sickness or infertility. Help them find a faith leader who can help them explore Your Perspective on their infertility journey, so that they may be a living example for others.- Amen<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n This quick bake dessert, Cherries with Cinnamon Dumplings Recipe, is great for announcing good news! It is an old-fashioned dessert made by simmering fruit with cinnamon dumplings that soak up the delicious syrup as they cook. Share it with family and friends.<\/span>\u00a0Happy Cooking.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Cherries With Cinnamon Dumplings Recipe<\/span><\/h2>\n***** * <\/p>\n * Ingredients<\/span><\/h2>\n\n2 bags (16 oz) Frozen dark sweet cherries<\/span><\/li>\n1\/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon sugar<\/span><\/li>\n1\/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon<\/span><\/li>\n1 Cup all-purpose flour (Spooned and Leveled)<\/span><\/li>\n2 teaspoons baking powder<\/span><\/li>\n1\/4 teaspoon salt<\/span><\/li>\n3\/4 cup whole milk<\/span><\/li>\n * Ice cream, for serving (Optional)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n * Cooking Directions<\/span><\/h2>\n\nCombine<\/span>\u00a0cherries\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>and 1\/3 cup<\/span>\u00a0sugar\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>in a large skillet.<\/span><\/li>\nBring to a boil over high heat.<\/span><\/li>\nReduce heat to medium-high heat.<\/span><\/li>\nSimmer rapidly until syrupy (8-10 minutes)<\/span><\/li>\nIn a small bowl; combine\u00a0<\/span>cinnamon<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and remaining Tablespoon\u00a0<\/span>sugar<\/span><\/strong>; set aside.<\/span><\/li>\nMeanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together\u00a0<\/span>flour, baking powder, and salt<\/span><\/strong>; gradually stir in\u00a0<\/span>milk<\/span><\/strong>, mixing, just until a wet dough forms.<\/span><\/li>\nReduce heat to medium-low.<\/span><\/li>\nSpoon Tablespoons of dough(It should make about 18) over simmering\u00a0<\/span>fruit;<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0sprinkle all with\u00a0<\/span>cinnamon sugar<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n*Cover skillet; simmer very gently until dumplings are ser and dry to the touch, 10-12 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n******* ** Serve warm, with<\/span> ** \u00a0ice cream<\/span><\/strong> ** \u00a0if desired.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n ** *Chef\u2019s Tips:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Be careful not to overmix the batter for the dumplings; it should be wet and lumpy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ** You can make this dish with other frozen fruit.\u00a0<\/span>Blueberries, or strawberries. Alone or combined.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n ** \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ** *****Christian Couple Woes With infertility becoming less of a taboo subject, more people are speaking out about their experience with infertility and building their families through Assisted Reproduction Technologies\u00a0(ART),\u00a0adoption, and\u00a0third-party reproduction. Religious leaders are often very respected figures in their communities. Whether they realize it or not, they can often play a role in supporting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5378,"featured_media":633,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[345,491,5,188,8,74],"tags":[497,500,494,230,503],"class_list":["post-857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cake","category-dessert","category-food","category-fruit","category-recipes","category-southern-recipes","tag-alabama-supreme-court","tag-alabama-supreme-court-decision","tag-infertility-in-the-church","tag-recipes","tag-religion-and-politics"],"yoast_head":"\nDiscovering Faith-Filled Support On Your Fertility Journey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Christian Couple Woes With infertility becoming less of a taboo subject, more people are speaking out about their experience with infertility and building Religious leaders are often very respected figures in their communities. 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