"Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"
I have not experienced the pain of struggling with infertility, but some of those close to me have. I think sometimes people within the church unconsciously magnify the ache, because we tend to focus so much on children. Many women's groups are mom-centered and church activities often revolve around families with kids. And each time the knife twists deeper.
Hannah knew that pain. In a culture that valued sons, she had none, and she was ridiculed for it. It's beautiful, though, to see Elkanah's response. He loved her. He wanted to be enough for her. He valued her, not her ability to give him children.
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