Not Giving Up

“Gina and Matt are expecting again,” Kira told Joel.

“Really? How did you find out?”

“Gina called me at the office this morning.”

“You look upset, Honey. What did she say to you?”

“After I congratulated her. She asked me about us. I told her that we were trying and she said that we can always adopt.”

Joel bristled. “I bet she sounded smug. I have a good mind to go over there and–“

Kira looked at him in alarm. “Oh, no, please, don’t, Joel. I don’t want to cause any problems between Matt and her. Let’s just forget about it.”

“How can we forget about it when it has upset you so much?”

“I’ll get over it.” She got up from the sofa. “I’d better change now and get dinner ready.”

Joel went over to her and hugged her tightly. She put her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. “Honey, I know how badly you want us to have kids and if it is God’s will, it will happen.”

Kira drew back and looked up at him. Her eyes were wet. “I really do hope and pray that it is His will, Joel. You would be such a wonderful father.”

He gently brushed her tears away with his thumb. “And you would be an incredible mother just like you’re an incredible woman and wife. Remember that miracles take time. It took time for Hannah to have hers. We won’t give up. We will keep on trying.”

She smiled. “Hannah didn’t give up and neither will I.”

He smiled. “Good. My grandmother always used to say, ‘Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.’“

“She was a wise woman.”

“Yes, she was.”

“Thanks, Joel. I feel so much better now.”

“I’m relieved to hear that. I hate to see you cry.”

“I’m going to save my tears for the moment when you’re holding our child in your arms.”

“Yes. And think how much fun you and I going to have conceiving that child.”

She laughed.

It felt good to hear her laugh again. He lowered his head and kissed her. “I love you,” he murmured when he raised his head.

“I love you too.”

“Fertility may have challenged us, but we are stronger for it. The next time you speak to Gina and the subject comes up, tell her, we know that adoption is an alternative, but we’re not ready to give up trying to conceive and that the struggle is what will make our success even sweeter.”

“I will.” She hugged him tightly, her countenance bright and cheerful. “I’d better go and change and then fix dinner.”

After she quickly left the living-room, he walked over to the window and looked out. The sun had set about an hour ago. Another day had ended.

He closed his eyes and prayed, “we will trust in You, Lord, the tear keeper who keeps track of all of our sorrows, our compassionate God who has collected all of Kira’s tears in Your bottle and recorded each one in Your book. You know all things. You know what Kira wants most in the world and only You have the power to grant her that blessing.

“Isaac prayed to You on Rebekkah’s behalf because she was childless and you answered his prayer. I’m praying for Kira because I love her so much, Lord and I want her to be happy. Being a mother is what will make her happy. In Your Word, it says, that You settle the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Children are a gift from You. I pray that You will bless Kira with the gift of motherhood because she has so much love in her to give.  Lord, I will wait for You and I will put all of my hope in Your word. In Jesus’ name, I pray, AMEN.”

When he opened his eyes, the scripture verse, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act” came to his mind and a great sense of peace filled him.

Posted for January 2021 Writing Prompts – #14 – The tear keeper

Source: FM100.3; Bible Gateway; Motherly; Penn Medicine; Maternity Nest; Christ-centered Mama; Crosswalk;