discipleship and nfp
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me... Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me." — Matthew 10:37–38
At first glance, today's Gospel may seem difficult to connect to natural family planning. Jesus speaks about sacrifice, discipleship, and placing Him above every earthly relationship. Yet for Catholic couples, these are what living NFP is truly about.
NFP is often misunderstood as simply a method of spacing pregnancies. While it certainly provides a scientific way to understand fertility, NFP is ultimately about something much deeper: discipleship.
Following Christ Before Following Our Own Plans
Marriage is one of God's greatest gifts, and marriages are are meant to point us toward Christ.
Jesus reminds us that our first love must always be Him. Every major decision in marriage, including those surrounding family size, fertility, and intimacy, should begin with the question: "Lord, what are You asking of us?"
That question can be uncomfortable. Sometimes God's invitation aligns perfectly with our desires. Other times it asks us to surrender our desires or the plans we thought were best. Whether a couple is discerning postponing pregnancy or remaining open to welcoming another child, faithful discernment means seeking Christ's will before our own.
Taking Up the Cross Together
Jesus does not promise that following Him will be easy. Many couples experience crosses related to fertility, such as infertility, miscarriage, uncertainty, difficult pregnancies, financial concerns, illness, irregular cycles, and the daily sacrifices of raising children.
NFP doesn't eliminate these crosses. Instead, it teaches couples to walk through them together with honesty, communication, prayer, and trust.
There are seasons when abstinence is difficult. Seasons when charting feels exhausting. Seasons when God's timing doesn't make sense.
Yet these moments become opportunities to imitate Christ and to choose love even when it requires sacrifice.
Every Act of Faithfulness Matters
The Gospel today concluded with an encouraging reminder:
"Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones... will surely not lose his reward."
God notices small acts of fidelity.
A wife records her observations.
A husband chooses patience over frustration.
Every difficult conversation about family planning.
Every prayer asking for wisdom.
Every sacrifice made out of love.
These quiet acts rarely receive recognition from the world, but they are seen by God.
Faithfulness is built one small "yes" at a time.
NFP Is More Than Biology
As a Marquette Method instructor, I love teaching the science behind fertility. Hormones, biomarkers, and evidence-based protocols are my second language. They are important tools that empower couples to understand the way God designed their bodies.
But science is not the destination.
The goal is a marriage rooted in Christ.
Natural family planning invites couples to grow in virtues that strengthen every aspect of married life: communication, generosity, self-control, mutual respect, and trust in God's providence.
Those virtues last far longer than any fertility chart.
