the blessings of motherhood

As I read the blogs of my daughters and daughters in law about their concerns of having another child, I pondered a special blessing given years ago before the ability to again have children had been restored to me.
We had two children at the time but one was very ill and doctors weren't sure if he would live past 5.
Having found the gospel and the significance of eternal families, my heart ached at the lost ability to have children. At that time, any surgery to restore that ability was very difficult and the results were extremely slim that it would be successful.
A very special blessing was received that reassured me that in fact the blessing to have children would be restored.
The restored health of the one was also given in another special blesssing by his father and uncle.
What joy filled my heart at the great love of a Heavenly Father to make a way for the great blessing of continued motherhood to be restored in such a miraculous way.
If that ability was to be restored, then so should the ability to raise and nurture those blessed children that would come.
I have never doubted that blessing, nor the strength that came when needed with each new addition to our family. The ability to love was always there, the strength was given when needed and the joy was felt and gratitude abounded with each child.
Now at this season of my life, I continue to marvel at the continuation of that blessing with the birth of each child to the miracle children that I was blessed with.
Of the one that was not supposed to live, there are now four children. Of the one who was not supposed to be able to have children, there are three. Another has four, one has two, one has three, one has one and another on the way, and one will, I am sure, be blessed in the future.
From that great blessing long ago there has been six added to the two and from those 8 have come 17.
Never doubt in your ability to love, care and raise up children to the Lord. You will be guided, directed and blessed in all your efforts. On your own, there could be shortcomings but with the Lord on your side, for every trial, there will be solutions and answers, strength and joy.
If He has the confidence in you to send you a child, then with that ability will also come all you will need to love and raise it, of that I can testify.