Look After Widows

James (1:27)

When women's husbands exit to heaven, their calendar, their cheque book, and the contents of their refrigerator changes, and the look in their children's eyes when they step through the door on holidays. Their living space is more cluttered. They seldom use make-up there are other changes so personal they can't be shared. Loneliness and solitude are not descriptive enough.

Widows experience so many firsts, they stop counting. From knowing widows, I've learned that they all change. And much of the change is good. They become faith-filled because they can't face the day any other way. They become strong because they've no choice. They're compassionate because their heart has been broken.' The fact is, women whose husbands die lose 75 percent of their friendships, 60 percent experience health issues, one-third are clinically depressed one year later, and most face financial hardship. Widows move from the front row of the church to the back, and then out the door. They go from serving and singing in the choir, to solitude and silent sobbing.' God cares so much about widows He mentions them over one hundred times in Scripture. He's a 'defender of widows' Psalms (68:5). He 'watches over and sustains them' Psalms (146:9). Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless is to look after widows.' No one can comfort a widow like another widow, when they see another woman enter this experience, they want to comfort her. While the need for financial support and help is common, the need for connection is more pressing they need believing friends near them.'