Embracing the NFP Lifestyle
Josh and Alison learned the CCL Sympto-Thermal method from a home study course, with Alison’s mother, a CCL teaching couple, as a mentor. For Alison, NFP had been a part of her family’s ethos for many years. Josh enthusiastically embraced the lifestyle when they married. He says, “Being kind of a nerd, it was great to study the book and learn about natural fertility patterns.” The fact that it was logical and biblically based was appealing to him.
Josh likes being part of the NFP fertility conversation each month and feels that regularly touching base has been a positive factor, especially when they experienced unemployment and Alison had health issues. “Being able to communicate and have honest discussions has helped us tremendously in all areas of our marriage.”
A Heart For Sharing
Josh and Alison have a heart for sharing NFP with engaged and newly married couples. When talking with other couples about their fertility and NFP, they are realistic and share the benefits along with the not-so-easy aspects. Asked what the challenges have been, they agree it is the abstinence part of NFP. Josh says that, over the years, he has relied on St. Joseph to grow in the virtue of chastity. “Men really need to ask for his intercession. He is an amazing Saint, having lived his whole life in chastity with the Blessed Mother. He’s a great example of multiple aspects of fatherhood, work and family life.”
Alison had serious health issues during perimenopause that required abstinence. She was on a medicine which her doctor, doubting their ability to abstain using NFP, advised her that becoming pregnant would be dangerous for the baby. Alison proudly shares, “Josh confidently told me to tell the doctor that ‘He was a strong Christian man with self-control.’ Alison says that their end goal is to get to heaven and the challenges they face with their fertility and the sacrifices they make are the stepping stones they are building toward their eternal future.
Josh and Alison agree that the real gift is the freedom to work with their fertility and not treat it as something to be suppressed and controlled. They made the decision together to use NFP. It helped them become unified. They are free to live their married life as God intended it to be lived.
Originally published in Family Foundations magazine, a publication sent to patrons of Couple to Couple League.