Walking beside me….

Walking beside me….

If you are new to this journey of widowhood, you may be wishing you had someone who really understands what you are going through.  Who better understands the comfort of a widow than another widow?!  Some of you may already have that women walking beside you.  Others may be searching or wishing they had that person…

Each widow walks this journey a little differently.  A lot that depends on where there are in life when their life became completely uprooted.  For some of you, this change was due to a long illness of your husband.  For others it happened so quickly that you didn’t know how you were going to handle this.  Regardless of how your husband passed away, you now are on a new journey.   Having someone walk beside you, is a help. 

I have often mentioned that when I became a widow, there were not any widow groups out there and Grief Share wasn’t available at the time.  I felt like I had to figure it out on my own.  I am hoping you do not feel that way.

Our God is a God of all comfort.  James 1:27 reads:   Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (American King James Version).   The Greek word for ‘visit’ can also mean ‘look after’ or ‘care for”.  For many of you, you have been fortunate to have connected with a seasoned widow.  One who has walked your path and to help you along your new journey of life. 

As a widow, you may have had several visitors the first few weeks.  If you did, you probably remember the special gifts or note that someone left you.  I know this may sound difficult, but people’s lives get busy and unless they have walked in your path, they go on with life as usual. 

I would encourage you to speak with your pastor, priest or rabbi.  Perhaps he/she may know of someone who can walk along side of you.  The scriptures tells us to:  Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

For those of you who may be a seasoned widow or would like to know how you can help, here are some suggestions:

• ·         Send her a note
• ·         Invite her out for coffee or lunch
• ·         Offer to pick her up and go for a walk
• ·         Pick up the phone and give her a call
• ·         Perhaps if you attend the same church, pick her up for church

A couple of suggestions to help you along your journey are:

• ·         You do not need to settle into your new life.  You will heal, grow, live, and in time thrive
• ·         No need to believe that your life is over.  You will once again find joy in your journey
• ·         Your journey is unique.  Please do not compare your journey to someone else.  Each of our journeys may be similar, we are all unique in our journey.

My heart goes out to each of you.  If you have someone walking beside you, you are fortunate.  If you do not, I pray God brings you someone to walk along side of you.