Source of Grace

Sometimes when I look at the beautiful chaos of my life I am completely amazed by the work that God has done in me. After almost ten years of marriage and four children, I am transformed by His love.

Although I am a cradle Catholic, and attended fourteen years of Catholic schooling, I never received any instruction about the Church’s teaching on natural family planning. I first learned of NFP during our marriage preparation course, and I was anxious about its efficacy. Nevertheless, encouraged by my husband and desiring to be faithful, we began our marriage with a complete openness to life.

The irony of my anxieties became very clear when after more than a year of marriage, we had not yet conceived. It was then that we sought out the help of Dr. Mary Davenport. Through her, we discovered the Creighton Method and subsequently conceived our first child when I was 36, and three more in the next six years.

Natural family planning has been a source of grace. In addition to facilitating the greatest gift of our children, it has opened my heart to a greater acceptance of life.
It has given me greater peace and acceptance of the will of God. And it has helped me understand my body in a way I never had before.

For those of you who are hesitant to try natural family planning, especially those who are older and struggling to conceive, I hope that my story can provide some encouragement.