Becoming a parent is not always an easy recipe to follow.
We think we have all the that we need, but sometimes that special magic ingredient is missing!
This beautiful analogy of infertility brought a tear to my eye, as some painful memories surfaced, but it is too good to share.
After having two little muffins that did not rise, I was blessed with two very special pieces of cake that I give thanks for every day. 🙂
My eldest is definately more of a “Blonde Brownie“, thanks to the bottle she has been blonde for a few years, rather than the mousy brown nature dished out. It suits her so much better. On the surface she is a beautiful blonde, with a magic touch for make up and looking classy, and underneath that pretty shell is a powerful mind and a driving force to achieve her goals not often seen in a 17 year old.
My ‘baby’ is just like a great big slice of “Lemon Meringue Pie“, super sweet with a heart of gold. Deliciously friendly and easy going, and she is a great balance for the two left brained analytical organisers that Miss B and I are.
Imagine yourself dressed up in your finest clothes. You and your sweet husband are attending a dinner together in one of the nicest restaurants in town. You both have planned, waited and saved for this evening. To say the least, you are very excited! You and your husband arrive and the atmosphere is more than you expected. Everyone around you is having a good time. The chandeliers are sparkling, candles are glowing and sweet soft music is playing in the background. To your pleasant surprise you see others there you know. You are seated with them and in your heart you think there just couldn’t be anything better!
The table is just exquisite. Breathtaking really. The people at your table begin to talk to you in jolly conversation. You glance at the menu and you don’t even know where to begin! You look over everything slowly and carefully, especially the dessert menu! All of your life you have been hearing about this restaurant’s marvellous and divine desserts. Deep in your heart, you have been looking forward to enjoying dessert the most!
Everyone at your table orders their food. For dessert they all order chocolate cake. You think, “Hey that sounds perfect. I’ll have chocolate cake too please.”
The waiter nods in approval and quickly swifts off to put in your order. In the meantime, you are still enjoying the surroundings, the music and the company. You grab your husband’s hand and sigh “Yes, life just couldn’t get any better.”
The food comes and everything looks just pleasing. Some of the things you tasted you really love, some of the things you didn’t. Either way, you know that dessert is on its way. That thought in and of itself is just exciting! Then you see him, your waiter! Your wonderful, blessed waiter with a silver tray full of plates of chocolate cake! He comes and starts handing out plates to those you know. You look at the cake and to put it simply, it looks just divine. You’re even more excited now! The waiter comes to your side and then passes you and your husband. You are shocked and think there must be some mistake. you don’t know what to do, but rather than make a fuss you think, “Just wait, I will get my chocolate cake soon too.”
Those that have their dessert are going on and on about how amazing the taste is. You smile, you are truly happy for them. Deep down you are anxious and their feelings only feed your curiosity and desire. Then you see the waiter again and think, “Ahhh, here he is.” You notice that he starts handing out seconds and thirds to those that have already had their piece of cake. Your husband doesn’t notice, he’s busy chatting with the fellow next to him! Deep down though you get a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. You know something is wrong, something is very, very wrong.
You ask the waiter, “Excuse me please. Where is my chocolate cake that I ordered”? The waiter just replies, “The baker has said that you must wait.” He rushes off and not another word is said. Time goes on. You still enjoy the surroundings, the people and the conversations. All the while though, you can’t get chocolate cake out of your mind. Time keeps creeping by and soon your husband notices too, “Where is our dessert?” You hold his hand and look into his loving eyes and think, “Even without chocolate cake, life is still good.”
Time, however, creeps and it creeps. At moments it seems like it has even stopped. It’s getting late and people are noticing you haven’t received your dessert yet. Questions start arising and you just don’t know how to respond. You look around other tables and notice that people are also getting their third, fourth and fifth servings of dessert. “Why” is all you have to lean upon.
You notice that others have ordered things for dessert besides chocolate cake. There is cherry pie, brownie ice cream sundaes, raspberry cheesecakes and such. They seem just as pleased, if not more pleased with their desserts and you wonder, “Should I order cherry pie too”? You talk to the waiter and he simply says, “I’m sorry ma’am, you just need to be patient and wait.”
You are starting to burn inside. Despite all of your best efforts you are beginning to boil. You really want to jump on top of the table and stomp while shouting, “Where is my chocolate cake?” You don’t though because you know that will get you no where! Instead you look around and notice that there are some that are refusing their chocolate cake. “It will make me fat” one says. “Ugh. I have enough already” another states. One woman, simply dumps her beautiful chocolate cake onto the floor.
As you look deeper around you, you notice there are a few others that are waiting too. Your heart goes out to them. You smile and wish there was something more you could do. You know their pain and it hurts. It really hurts.
Finally, the waiter comes and he has chocolate cake on that familiar beautiful silver platter…and he has enough for two. One for your husband and one for you! Your so elated with joy that you can’t hardly stand it!!! You tell everyone at your table and they are just as happy for you. “We knew it would happen” they say. “You just needed to relax”! Little did they know that deep inside relaxing was the last thing you were feeling! You look at your husband. Tears are in both of your eyes. You carefully take a taste. It’s such sweet, sweet perfection. You go to take another and just before you do the waiter comes and gently takes your plates away. “Something is wrong” he says. “Don’t worry my dear, the time is soon.”
There’s confusion. Sadness. Anger. Above all though, you are just deeply and truly heartbroken. Heartbroken to the very core. You don’t know what to do. You turn to others for support. They cry with you and too ask why. You take a deep breath and find the strength to go on. You have been given the promise that you will receive dessert. It is just not understood as to when. You decide to put your full trust in the baker. You reach far inside within yourself and find the effort to ask your husband to dance.
He looks at you and smiles…”Yes, I would love to dance with you my dear one.” You both get up, leave the table and set off to dance.
As you are dancing, you get your bearings. You again begin to notice your surroundings. The beautiful surroundings that have so magically grabbed your attention in the first place. You remember the music, the sounds, the smell of the sweet flowers. You breath. That’s all you can do. You breath and slowly begin to enjoy the moment again. Slowly, it all comes back to you. The things you love. Being with the person you love the most. The pains you have just felt are still there. Still vulnerable, but you feel life again. Yes, life is still good.
After quite a few dances, you both decide it’s time to sit at your table. People still have their desserts and their chocolate cakes. Your space is still empty. You decide, however, to really focus on those around you. In doing so you find more joy. The desire for dessert is still there- but it’s manageable. Time moves on.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere, your waiter appears. He has the biggest smile on his face. He is pleased to announce that you and your husband’s dessert is finally here!! Your heart wells up with joy, but you’re afraid too. You ask the waiter, “Will you take it away”? “No, this one was made especially for you.”
You smile back, hardly believing that this could be true or real. You look at it and it’s not a dessert you have ever seen before. It’s then that you realize that the baker has made a dessert with all of your favorite colors and flavors. Careful detail was lovingly taken into every consideration. “How did He know that this is exactly what I wanted”? The waiter just smiles and says, “Because he knows and loves you.” If you look, you can see him there. You look and at the door, through the little round window you see a gentle man with tears in his eyes. He is grinning from ear to ear and looking at you and your husband. You can’t hardly see anymore because of all of the happy tears. You whisper a big “Thank You” and in your heart you feel that this simple phrase will never be enough.
You look at the people around you, they too have tears in their eyes. They too are smiling from ear to ear. Everything is so precious and tender now- even more so than when you first arrived here. It’s then that you learn that the pains you have felt all along the way. The waiting, the crying, the agony. It’s all been a special recipe to make this moment this much more wonderful and sacred.
In your soul you take a deep breath and slowly let out a big sigh of gratitude.
You grab your husband’s hand and sigh again, “Yes, life just couldn’t get any better.”………Author (unknown) sadly I can’t pass on credit where it is definately due. 🙁
What flavour are your pieces of ‘cake’ like?
Sharing for #IBOT with Essentially Jess 🙂
I had two years of infertility (not long compared to many I know), and one that “didn’t rise”. I then had four children in 4.5 years. I am so blessed with “cake”
Wow, I couldn’t stop reading this until the end and while I was reading it I actually thought of the analogy of couples waiting to become parents which I think this story is trying to illustrate. My gorgeous daughters are like strawberry cup cakes. I feel so blessed to have them in my life and they make my life all the more sweeter.
Oh this brought tears to my eyes!
As a person who has had cake multiple times and has had to say ‘no more!” I can’t imagine how it must feel to be left out. Thank you for the analogy though, that helps me get closer to understanding xx
I was in tears by the end of this post.
Captivating and so very moving Xxx
What a beautiful analogy! Such a shame that the author is unknown. How wonderful that piece of cake must have tasted! Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming story xx Josefa from #teamIBOT
That’s very touching. I’m so lucky that I haven’t had to deal with infertility. We had a few unfortunate baking experiences early on but then 3 beautiful gateaux came our way, each of which is completely different but just as delicious as the others. Thanks for sharing this.
I loved this post 🙂
My 9yo is certainly butter pecan ice cream. She slippery and a little bit nutty, but oh so sweet 🙂
My 8yo is pure vanilla. Goes well with anything.
My 7yo is moose tracks! Loud, messy, and you always know where he is based on the tracks he leaves behind!
This is a wonderful story and a very touching analogy. So glad that you shared it!
Wow – I have no words and tears running down my cheeks. While I had one cake and said would have said no to a second or third helping if anyone had asked me, I can only imagine how you must have felt.
Thank you for sharing an amazing and beautiful analogy !
Have the best day !
Me
I was very much at the possibility of missing out on cake – then we were blessed with double chocolate!
Infertility is more common than people realise and this story is a beautiful reminder that every child is a blessing.
Wow that is very powerful I have goosebumps – very moving – thanks for sharing. I’m so fortunate to have had cake and sometimes I just have to remind myself how lucky I am x
Your story is so touching. I am visiting from Blogtoberfest, deciding to pick three blogs each day (when I can) to visit. Yours is my second. I am on a journey to heal (physically and emotionally) from uterine cancer. It means a full hysterectomy soon and looks like no need for treatment beyond that. I wanted children not so long ago and have mostly made peace with not having them but I think it will always be somewhat of a grief. My flavour of cake for today is to own that I give birth to so much more than what my uterus can bare. Some days it is a hard cake to swallow, but most days it satiates my desires.
I had 5 pieces of cake presented then taken from me, then after 3 years we finally got to keep one. Every day I am grateful. Thanks for the post, it is a wonderful analogy, of the long and hard journey so many have had, including myself, to parenthood.