Timing is Everything

"Timing is everything," is a saying that I have heard and said many times throughout my life. It usually rolls off my tongue with a sarcastic tone because at the exact time I try to back out of my parking space at Target, there are undoubtedly three other cars trying to back out at the very same time, so we each have to wait to see who will be brave enough to go first without the other three backing into them. "Timing is everything! Arrggghh!"

But, in the world of infertility, timing really is everything and means everything for the success you hope for. At the exact moment a woman's egg is released from her ovary and begins its journey down the fallopian tube, sperm cells must be present and ready to fertilize that egg at that perfect moment. If the sperm arrive an instant too early or a split-second too late the egg will die without being fertilized. Timing is everything - one of the first things that has to happen perfectly in order for a baby to be born.

Then, there is the timing of that perfect song that plays on the radio. It seems to have been written just for you and speaks directly to what you are feeling or going through at that very moment. Some may think it to be coincidental, but I think moments like this are messages sent from the One that loves us and is with us. For, I have experienced too many moments like this to pass them off as mere coincidence. During many moments of sadness and not being able to wrap my head around why Chad and I are going through the struggles we are experiencing, one song always seems to play on the radio. It's called, "Blessings," by Laura Story. The chorus goes like this:

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if the thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to know You're near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

The song reminds me, every time I hear it, that sometimes what is best for us is not what we are wanting or think we need at the time. Sometimes, blessings are granted to us in the absence of what we want. The lyrics of this song have brought me comfort many times and helped to cleanse my heart of feelings of loneliness, despair, and questioning. Its message reached me in the perfect moment - timing is everything.

Another example of this happened this week. I was able to sleep in a bit and when I woke, I turned on the TV. I haven't had any time of late to watch much TV, so I was excited to turn it on and veg out! The first show that appeared on the screen was the Rachael Ray show. I have never been a fan of her show as I find her to be a bit annoying, but for some reason on this morning, I didn't hunt for the remote to change the channel. Celine Dion was Rachael's guest and I caught the tail-end of the interview. Right before they went to commercial, Rachael told me to "stay tuned" because they were going to surprise another guest with a visit from Celine and talk about how Celine Dion had inspired this person's life. What a cliff-hanger! I had to see what they were talking about.

When the show returned from commercial, they showed a video of their visit with a woman, about my age, at her home. She talked about how her and her husband had struggled to conceive. Throughout their journey, she found solace and inspiration from Celine Dion's music. (I couldn't really relate to her on this issue, but was totally hearing her on the infertility stuff.) She talked about how she was encouraged by Celine's struggle and perseverance through her bout with infertility. She said, "Celine never gave up when trying for a baby and I never gave up either." As soon as she shared that she was pregnant with triplets, I started crying! I know, I know, . . . I cry a lot! Then, back in the studio, Celine Dion came out from behind the curtain and surprised this lovely pregnant-with-triplets lady and they embraced - and, yes, they cried, too! Timing is everything and I'm glad that I happened to turn on the TV at that particular time, so I could be witness to a story of perseverance that I could directly relate to. As I sat there, I felt that I was being reminded to not give up and keep trying.

There is one more topic on timing that is a bit different from the others I have mentioned here. And, I hesitate to talk about this one as it is a bit off-the-wall . . . So, here it goes. In thinking about our baby and why he/she hasn't yet come to exist, I often think about the timing of certain life events and how our baby will be effected by said events. For example, maybe we haven't conceived yet because our baby will need to be a particular age when he/she runs for president of the United States - maybe the world is not yet quite prepared for the wisdom and leadership of our baby in about 30 to 40 years! Or, maybe, our baby is waiting to arrive because their soulmate/future husband/future wife has yet to be conceived because his/her parents have not yet met . . . Timing is everything, you know! Or, perhaps, our baby is waiting for the moment when we least expect to become pregnant and will pounce on the opportunity to surprise us! So, this is how my mind works and attempts to understand this often answer-absent experience. Weird, I know!

To sum up, the timing of certain events in my life has proven to be nothing short of magic and blessing. These moments help to sustain and push me forward. Someday, the timing will be perfectly and miraculously orchestrated and our baby will be soft, pink, and warm in our arms. There is some real truth to the saying, "timing is everything" and I can't hardly wait for that moment when we shall meet our baby. May the timing in your life be nothing short of miraculous!