Empty Womb, Aching Heart: Hope and Help for Those Struggling With Infertility (Paperback)

by Marlo Schalesky (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Mother's Day is not a joyful occasion for all women, particularly those who would like to have children but cannot. Marlo Schalesky's Empty Womb, Aching Heart: Hope and Help for Those Struggling with Infertility does for Christian women what Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin's Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope: A Jewish Spiritual Companion for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss did for Jewish women: provide comfort and camaraderie in the face of infertility and pregnancy loss.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review
"...filled with personal wisdom and experience ...helpful to encourage a friend who is struggling with infertility." -- Discipleship Journal, Sep-Oct 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764224107
• ISBN-13: 978-0764224102
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,150 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #58 in

  Books > Parenting & Families > Fertility

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You are not alone, March 29, 2005

By	Sarah N. Horton "WI reader" (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has a great message at its core-if you are experiencing infertility, you are not alone. The men and women who shared their stories in this book give truly heartwrenching accounts of their experiences with infertility. I read this book after my 2nd miscarriage, and appreciated the Christian perspective, as there are not too many other such books out there. The first time I read the book through, I thought it lacked one major thing-hope that someday it would be possible to have a child. There are only a few stories in this book that detail the couple's experiences ending in the birth or adoption of a child. I felt like I must have missed something in the book, so I read it again. This time, with a more open heart and mind, I found inside this book its true message-infertility is not always "cured" with a child. It is ok to let go of dreams for a child and fill your life with God and other things, and maybe someday there will also be a child. This wasn't the message I had hoped to get out of the book, but it was one I desperately needed to hear. I recommend it to all who are looking for God's voice in the midst of infertility. An excellent companion, and one that is even more helpful to me is Ginger Garret's Moments for Couples who Long for Children.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real People Share Their Infertility Stories, July 17, 2001

By A Customer

This book is incredible. I read it last night and cried through most of it! As a Christian battling infertility, its so nice to hear the message that it's okay to hurt, cry, and be angry. You won't find any Pollyanna cliches about just "trust God" or "have faith." Instead the message is that while, of course, we must trust and have faith, the fact is that infertility is a painful, horrible experience and its okay to grieve this. I feel like I've been given permission to drop my "Happy Christian" mask and just be myself-- grief and all-- with both God and other people.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll Find You're Not Alone, June 21, 2001

By	Janet H. McHenry "Author/Speaker" (Loyalton, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Along with the pain of not having a child, there is often another--loneliness, the perception that others do not know what you're going through. Schalesky puts arms of understanding around the reader with her book Empty Womb, Aching Heart. The twenty-four stories of those who've wondered "Why NOT me?" lead the reader to comfort and trust in God. This book is a wonderful help for those facing infertility, a wonderful gift from friends who want to help.