Twelve Stripes Deep: How Infertility & Other Suffering Delivered My Greatest Joys

n nThis is not your typical infertility journey. It is a love story painted by three dramatic characters - God, suffering, and the surprising joy that comes from leaning into both of them. After about 20 years of physical pain and 7 years of infertility, Mary's worst fears came true - her doctor recommended a hysterectomy. She began writing a blog series to describe her trek which, despite the suffering it brought, has delivered her most incredible joys. It begged her for more detail and gave birth to a memoir. n n n nAs a Catholic, the implications of infertility are especially troubling when you consider how the call to be fruitful is often interpreted. But as Pope St. John Paul II describes in Mulieris Dignitatem, ...The motherhood of every woman...is not only 'of flesh and blood': it expresses a profound 'listening to the word of the living God' and a readiness to 'safeguard' this Word...(cf. Jn 6:68). God calls all women to be mothers and to express our originality into the world through our unique talents and the gift of spiritual motherhood. This is a profoundly healing message for women with and without children.n n n nIn this book, Mary uses her personal experience of suffering through physical pain and infertility to explore authentic women's healthcare & communicate a greater reality of the incredible joy and purpose God desires for each person, despite - and even because of - the hardships of life.n n nn nThis book will: n n-Help you to discover the meaning of your sufferingn n-Help you to find your purpose(s)n n-Illuminate the true meaning of fruitfulness and motherhoodn n-Educate about authentic women's healthcaren n-Explore the many facets of birth control, ART & adoption n n-Give you a different way to look at infertilityn n-Help to uncover the face of Jesusn