Somedays, we just have had enough! The constant feeling of our loss is always inside us and always will be. The feelings are upfront and center… for me; it’s at bedtime or sitting beside me while driving. We feel and do as best we possibly can. I think, to put it into words, the lyrics of the song by the soft rock group America, “The Horse with No Name,” comes to mind… “We wander through the desert like a horse with no name” as part of our daily lives.

For that matter, nobody seems to really understand, even our immediate family. Soon we come to realize that it’s never over and never will be; we’ve become “wanderers” as such, widowers, we are double reminded when we see… “Please Check the Box Below which Applies.” Although I fully understand, and it’s necessary, it is always a subtle reminder. “Please, give us a break!” Some days it’s just a little much and always at the wrong time. 

But I’ve found a helpful solution, in addition to the words of Psalm 23:4 quoted above.

I had to remember God is with us and will enter our Hearts if we LET Him. He’s been there all the time; sometimes, we become so full and overwhelmed we forget about Him. I just didn’t feel Him again until I opened the Door again, after the loss of my wife. Then I sought His guidance once again. You see…

This past Fall, I got in one of those “Gotta get-away-moods…Space-Time” to try and sort things out in my mind about immediate family. Like me, we reach out to just “talk and remember good times.” In some cases, close family or not, sooner or later, our psychological thought process engages, stimulated by their response which is anything from “yea” to no response at all, in ANY form. Some are more fortunate, and I say lovely. To others, we seek a solution, “for thou art with me.” 

So, I had an Executive Staff Meeting with myself and my “Subordinate Feelings Staff.” Conclusion,” get out of “Dodge” and go somewhere, not luxurious, just quiet and different. So, the plan became a random spot in….” Almost Heaven,” West Virginia, not far from where I live. The area in the picture above is on the edge of the “Ice Age Forest,” like me, near Marlinton, WV. At 4,530 feet above sea level, it was destined to be as close as I could to have a much-needed talk with God and my Wife. 

After a few smiles, laughs over beautiful memories, and tears, the pressure seemed somewhat relieved.

Still thinking, I then took a walk on the edge trail and sat a little longer watching wildlife; I saw a few deer, a family or flock of wild turkeys, and the ever comic of the woods…the chipmunk, as all they seem to do is chase, play and eat! They always seem happy. The point is, I think, we must learn from nature, God’s, animals, and the closeness of their families. For some reason, we don’t. We are so centered on ourselves. 

We, as widowers, probably understand this more than anyone… we’ve lost our mate, and that’s at the core of our deep feelings about everything. We can never forget we “walk through the valley of death; we feel no evil, for though art with me, thy rod and thy staff will comfort me,” I think we must remember this Verse. Like the families in the forest, the loss of one affects all, but they come together and move on. They know “there is no Future in the Past.”

How do we get the message out about family and losses?

Just one more applicable comment, unfortunately, unlike the forest, man has been at war, in some form, from Genesis 1. How do we get the message out about family and losses? We pray for them. I must admit, the trip did me well. I came back a little refreshed, open-minded and I intend to take another. “Time Out” even for a day, is highly recommended. Go somewhere totally different for a change of scenery and a thought or two about the good times.

So, after six years, some of us with even many more, it’s still yesterday and will be yesterday forever till we are called. For the friends I have on our same ship, we move on one day at a time, and for those that retain this almost, “like indifference,” as I have, and others have said many times, “There will come a time when both Chairs are Empty, and they will think, “I wish I had….”

In conclusion, my bucket list goes on. We, who, not of our choice, carry the “widowed” checkmark, need to continue looking at tomorrow and this year’s Daffodils’ that are just about sixty days away!

Guest post by Barry E. Weber, Bruceton Mills, West Virginia

Here’s a song, There is No Future in the Past, by Vince Gill

Wow, Barry! What an astounding message to help us get through those particularly sad times, when we miss that person in our life and we don’t know what the heck to do! We can stay stuck which is the worst situation.

Thanks for this, and your other guest post, How Do We Grow on Our Own as Widows and Widowers.

If you have taken the time to read this, There’s No Future in the past Fits Widowhood, please, share it with other widows and widowers you know.

What are your thoughts or feelings about the truth in, there’s no future in the past fits widowhood?

How do you cope or manage when those feelings hit you?

The post There’s No Future in the Past Fits Widowhood appeared first on Patricia Weber.

My husband died suddenly, unexpectedly, almost five years ago. After close to a month in the hospital, I was in shock. I felt numb, with little emotion.

Widowhood Year One in Black and White

As so many speak of that first year, it is indeed memories only in black and white. Just a haze of memories. It was horrendously painful.

My first experience with anxiety attacks started before I lined up any support. The episodes always happened when walking up the stairs from my garage to the all first-floor living area.

An overwhelming fear would build up out of nowhere. The feeling would take me to my knees. Then my breath wouldn’t be there. My sobbing didn’t help me get it back. I would shout for God to help me. I would focus on talking with Jesus. Praying in one breath and then screaming at Him in the next breath, “WHY!”

But, life as it was, I cannot remember. Maybe, in part, because I was wailing all the time, every day.

Or perhaps, it was because I fought the thoughts that Marty would not come back. Ever.

In saying goodbye to all the family who traveled for Marty’s funeral service, I sadly learned the widow label. A friend hugged me on her leaving, and she whispered to me, “I’m so sorry you have to be a member of the club no one wants to be a member of, the widows club.”

Even though she whispered, it was ominously loud.

So it didn’t matter how good I was. Or that I would think of more ways I could honor God. Or that I continued to get up, dress up, and show up somewhere daily, including church on Sundays.

Marty died. I did not.

Maybe it’s a blessing there are mostly hazy memories of that first year.

Most Significant Life Emotional Events

I can remember our great first date now 53 years ago, and our Italian wedding day now 51 years ago, quite clearly. There are hundreds of thousands of memories also still with me.

So I suppose even the painful memories must stay in my neural pathways. Sometimes the pain will just surface seemingly out of nowhere. But the fact for me is that I was married to the love of my life for 47 years. We did not get to “say” goodbye in a way I like to think about.

I was at least finally lying beside him because I finally insisted with the doctor to be on his bed. Spared, however, from anything like COVID, many were not allowed to be by that person’s side.

Moving Forward at My Own Pace

Unlike any business experience I have, I don’t find experiencing the death of the most significant person in my life too helpful.

I still love traveling. Even made a trip all by myself at the end of year one. Just to prove to only myself, I could.

I will always relish traveling to be with my family!

I still love throwing friend gatherings. Even though I had no genuine interest in the teams, I had two Super Bowl parties.

I still love dining out, even though COVID makes things a bit concerning.

And, with my newfound love, I am learning that being a couple is a beautiful thing for me.

Life is for people who are alive. My husband would likely be encouragingly telling me this if I could hear him.

Widowhood is moving forward, then falling backward.

How was YOUR first year in widowhood?

How are you still moving forward?

How does falling backward affect you, if it does?

I hope you will comment below!

The post Widowhood Is Moving Forward, Then Falling Backward appeared first on Patricia Weber.

Each of us in the widowhood season has a different path. In the last four years, I’ve learned that my spouse is and will always be in my heart. I discovered three key declarations to help me continue to choose my rather jagged path.

My faith is the most significant influence on me and my actions.

When Marty died unexpectedly, it devastated my life, with us being a couple for almost 50 years. Being with him on his hospital bed, as he was dying, is even more complicated with my dad and mom dying before and after him, within just months.

The fact is, he died. And while I was there to witness him saying to my pastor, “I believe in God, and I believe Jesus Christ was His son…” knowing he is in heaven and I will see him again when I go home, was in no way comforting.

For close to a year, I screamed at God every morning, with words I don’t feel comfortable either writing or that I even thought to say such things.

Still, quite often, I would get God winks and affirmation to keep talking with God through the Holy Spirit. The book of God Winks, is an encouraging one with true stories about how God communicates with us about everyday details of our life. 

Perhaps these observations, which I still see, would be an upcoming post as I am on firm ground saying that God is constantly with me once I learned to recognize such signs.  

My daily routine to deepen my faith is built around reading scripture each morning and falling asleep to an evening scripture recording. Keep leaning on Him. Keep your faith.

(quote from the Bible app)

Next of importance in navigating my widowhood path is staying connected.

I’m more of an introvert. This in no way means I am shy, but rather, I am my own best battery charger. And charging my energy to be with others has to happen otherwise, someone might think, “how unsociable she is.” 

But on occasion, I’ve met a person, who in conversation, I mostly just listen. In the end, the person would declare something like, “it’s so interesting talking with you!”

I knew I had to get out and be around people when Marty died. He was my connection to people as he was a most gregarious extrovert. 

What I started to do was find grief groups I could attend in person. Nothing is ever routine in the widowhood season. The first two groups were Christian sponsored, and then a third was at our local Hospice House. 

Each group of people is mainly widows and widowers. I realized I wanted to make choices within the group to get out and do things with. Even more so than a couple of couples I stay connected with, by God’s grace, these groups would be where I could speak about the sorrow, the pain, and yet still find the laughter and connections.

With 2/3s of me gone, the parts that included more than half of my life were gone.

My desire to be part of a couple again began with a fun gathering with one couple who still connect with me and invited a recently divorced man and me to a summer weekend holiday cookout. It turned into a couple of more couple activities. As I felt the fun and laughter, I began to consider, do I or don’t I want to date?

I talked with God and Marty and somehow felt an “Okay, try it.” 

After two years of dating and several failed relationships over a month and maybe 12 men (I stopped counting), I was ready to quit. It was depressing. Or maybe my hopes were too high. As I opened the latest dating app, I told God, “Okay, this is it for me. It’s now, or I move on from this path and pour my energy into something else You direct me to.”

That’s when I met the man I believe God meant for me to be with, in this season. He is the most gentlemanly man I’ve met. Charles is a business owner, a musician, lived a hippie life, experienced EST training, has a crazy sense of humor, is intelligent, is the most loving and romantic man and talks with me about feelings. He’s also a man of faith in God.

I adore him because of his understanding of so much about me. At one of our lunches together, he started talking about an experience of his, which in turn, took me to want to share a similar experience with my husband. “That reminds me of a time with Marty when…” and I stopped. A thought popped so quickly in my mind I paused. I made a choice to express my view. 

In his EST training, he learned a theory that we are always at a choice point. So I made a choice:

I turned to look up from my plate at Charles and asked, “If I talk too much about Marty, would you please, let me know? I’m thinking I shouldn’t be doing that with you.”

He didn’t know how a narcissist I dated when I felt a nudge from a God wink to start meeting men made me feel awful because I was still thinking about my husband.

Charles looked at me with surprise and said with one of his adorable, loving smiles, “My darling, you were with this man for almost 50 years. How could you not talk about experiences with him?”

I’ve decided for me, being a couple is something I love. And it is what is possible if you want it during widowhood when you have faith and act on it.

I’ve gone from wailing and screaming at God for just about the entire first year my life changed forever to learning to trust in Him more than ever. I’m now better at “be here now,” trusting God does have plans for me… “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Widowhood timing is all up to God, of course. And, now, because of His promises, I am standing on that firmer ground.

Do you have any Bible scriptures that you count on to help you during this season of life? Oh! Please do share your comments for all of us.

The post Widowhood Timing is All Up to God appeared first on Patricia Weber.

It must be my husband Marty honestly spoiled me in the 47 years we were blessed in our marriage. Inside the life of our marriage, I felt it was typical with high points, low points, and sometimes the mundaneness during all those years. Dating at 72 is changing my perspective about a long-term relationship.

Thought #1. Decide if you want to date and know your objectives.

My objectives are different from when I was 19 years old, yet some expectations don’t change. If you read about one of my first dating experiences, you’d know, if my guy has health habits that disgust me, the relationship is done. Finished. Complete.

I knew I wanted to date and have male companionship again about 2 years after my husband died. One couple who stayed in my life invited me over for a casual Memorial Day grill out, and there happened to be a recently divorced man they also invited. Cozy foursome.

We talked, ate, drank, and laughed for hours. We were even making plans for another get-together as the four of us.

My friends swear there were no matchmaking intentions, and thankfully, there was no match. However, I was feeling more alive. I knew what I had to do.

Thought #2. Explore different ways to meet men. For you, it might be women.

My husband was an extrovert and introduced me to life experiences I might not otherwise have experienced, like our interest in cars, boating, star gazing.

So I listed ways and places to meet men, including telling friends dating is in my new plans, small groups, bars, car shows, and new – online dating for me.

Online dating seems to attract me because of my internet experience, and I feel more secure keeping some distance between men and me.

For me finding first dates has been relatively easy online and it can be for anyone. It’s just that finding that someone you want to see again that’s my challenge.

Thought #3. Have an exit plan if the vibes are off or it’s just not working, particularly for that first date.

It was the third man I was dating for a second time. Let’s call him Dick. He was pretty amorous, bringing a dozen yellow roses with him for a breakfast date the first time we met.

We talked on the way to the table for the lunch date and a little more chit-chat as we looked through the menus. Then a curveball I wasn’t expecting. With a serious tone, he asked, “Would you mind if we split the bill?”

I’m not sure if he had the same menu as I did; however, there were lunch specials at $10, and it didn’t seem to me like a lot. It was confusing for me. However, I reluctantly said yes.

When the waitress returned to take the order, she looked at Dick and stated, “I presume this is one check?” He shook his head no. As she appeared to make that note, she looked at me and rolled her eyes in disbelief.

That’s when I knew an exit plan is something needed for particular situations. I’ve got family and friends who know if they get just one word in a text from me, “Help!” They will call me, and we improvise me having to say to that particular date, “I’m so sorry, but I have got to get to my friend who needs help.”

I’ve never looked back. It’s the things you can find out so quickly that might be a flag waving you on.

Thought #4. Have your list in mind of what you want in your companion and what would be non-negotiable deal-breakers.

Having no idea this was necessary, I created this list after meeting someone online with a topsy turvy 10 month-long narcissistic relationship with a Jack.

There were flags everywhere I ignored. And when you have no less than 10 family members and friends call out each warning, it’s best to pay attention.

But this first encounter made it easier for me to make a list. I mean, I could just list everything I loved about my husband. But now, this is a different list. This is the man on the way to me.

So, I took everything offensive, manipulative, or abusive with Jack and turned it around. Unfortunately, the list is more refined with 2 years of dating and meeting about 12 or 13 men. But my dates are getting closer to what I believe in my heart would be an excellent relationship.

Thought #5. Dating means extra extraordinary self-care.

Maybe you’re reading and wondering, what’s wrong with her? How many men does she need to meet? I often think dating is like selling experiences, “You’ve got to kiss a lot of toads before you meet the handsome prince.” And I guess I’m just as particular as many widows dating who know what they want.

When a relationship ends for me, it’s awful. Possibly because I put my whole self into it. I take the good and the bad as it unfolds and keep moving forward.

I’ve taken an online course to heal after being with the narcissist, and that taught me, sometimes the self-care actions are similar to when my husband first died: immersed in self-care of my choosing. Massage, manicure pedicure, magnesium salt bath, purposeful daily intention, plenty of journaling, and the list goes on.

Do you ever think about dating? Are you not interested at all? What are your thoughts about dating for yourself? Please, comment!

The post Epic Thoughts on Making Widowhood Dating Easier appeared first on Patricia Weber.

I blame my dating realities on my husband; God rest his soul. While I don’t recall the exact date he asked me some of the following questions, I clearly remember the conversation. My one-hour-long first date can be summed up in this 5 minute and 34 seconds read.

As a usual morning might be for us, I stepped into his office to ask him, “Would you like a new cup or refill of coffee?” I love serving him coffee in the mornings.

“Sure!” he said as he handed me his cup with that melt your heart smile.

Away I went and came back within a minute or so, handing him the topped-off, black cup of coffee.

As he takes the filled cup from my hand to his, he looks away from his computer, at me, and asks, “If I die before you, will you get married again?”

“What? Where did that question even come from?” The truth is if I had known today what I know now, the date could have been one I would remember more of, but I don’t.

Do you have moments you wish you would remember more clearly?

Looking right at him, in my startled tone, I remember answering something like, “Well, I have no idea where you came up with that question, but the answer is no, absolutely not! Why would I? I mean, look at us, 40 some years together, and we have been enjoying life as best as it can be! How can either of us have this again?”

“Okay,” he said, but apparently, my husband wanted to know more. “You’ll probably date, though, right?

He was not usually this curious about the afterlife for either of us. But I went right along with his questions and said, “I would likely date. Sure.”

He continued with his questions! But this time, more of a statement, Marty declared, “Yeah, you’ll probably find a pool boy!”

So yeah. I blame my husband because, in dating, I am more attracted now to younger guys. I never thought about it really until this new, sometimes wretched reality.

You have gotta laugh, though, with online dating if that’s what you choose.

You never know who the heck a man is in age, looks, or even height! I cannot speak for any woman but myself, but the photos I post in my dating profile are as current as the day I get there and only back 2 or 4 years at most.

Some days dating events make me want to exit this side trip from the path I’m navigating.

But the truth is, it’s now at a point I get to look back, recall with my close friends, sisters, and even my son and granddaughters, to tell an experience, and almost non-stop laughter goes from there.

Some of my moments in today’s dating continue to have me nod my head in my own disbelief of how the heck I attracted someone like “that” guy. My list of “want him to be/do/have” is not that long, and it’s written out!

The truth is, list or no list, I know God has put every one of these 10 or 12 guys in my path in just two years.

Some of my first-dates-only endings remind me I still do have some common sense. More importantly, I admit I was clueless about dating realities and how to navigate them.

The truth is dating realities in my widowhood are sometimes sad, oftentimes discouraging and most times make me laugh.

Online Dating Reality #1 The photos are far from recent.

The first man I dated beyond one date after Marty died, let me know current photos are vital so you can identify this person. So on about the 3rd or 4th man, I felt more prepared: This man I’ll call John might not look like his photos.

So I asked for a video call; after all, it was still a COVID world.

Indeed he was not anything like the photos! He was more than “balding.” Or I will say, he had those hair puffs around his head, mostly above and around his ears.

But you know what? Conversations were interesting, and I was finding out something about his previous marriages. He wasn’t widowed or recently separated. Dating separated men for me just one time was enough of a lesson in real-life baggage someone is carrying.

By the way, some of my friends give me well-intentioned advice, but I guess I need to learn lessons in my own way.

My friends, my own experience tells me if photos are not recent, it’s not necessarily a good thing.

Online Dating Reality #2 Think about what else in a profile might be a lie.

Thinking bald can be okay, I decided to meet up. John’s profile also said he was 5’5″. This seems to be a pattern with shorter men. The 5’5″ is almost code for saying, “I’m not that tall.”

John and I had our first date as advised, in a public place, a restaurant. It was a boot kind of day for me. I love ankle-high boots with just a small heel. And I 5’2″ I thought it would still work for looking up a bit at this man.

But I was also prepared with a pair of flats in the back of my car.

Nothing would have prepared me for looking down, really down, at John as we each stepped out of our cars. I was startled to the point the words just tumbled out of my mouth with, “Oh my God, you’re so short! And thank goodness I brought flats!” As I turned back to my car to grab my flats, he’s telling me not to worry; it’ll be okay.

Really? Seriously? How does lying about your height make a great first impression?

Even the flats didn’t work. As I turned around to face John again, hoping indeed I would be looking up, I just laughed. Truthfully we each laughed.

He broke the laughter by saying, “Let’s just get something to eat.”

Online Dating Reality #3 Identify your deal breakers, which could be a growing list.

Obviously, John was known at this restaurant as people said hello to him from across the room. Still all good. Many people knew and appreciated Marty, so it seemed John was known and liked.

We talked through a tasty lunch. He took a business call or two, which, in checking in with myself, was acceptable: he was a business owner running a business.

Nothing can prepare us for everything. And you need to picture this: at the beginning of the meal, the plastic flatware at each of our seats was wrapped in the napkin, which was then wrapped in that sticky tape to hold the pack together.

Little things get noticed.

At the end of the meal, he took his sticky wrap strip up to his smiling mouth and used his fingers to tap the wrap on his upper teeth. Then he peeled it off.

And then the confirmation of my presumption was undisputed.

When I open my flatware pack, I left my sticky tape on the table too. Suddenly his hand reached across to my side of the table, and he’s picking up my flatware sticky tape.

I watched this without a word. It took me just a second to process it in my overthinking head: “He’s doing what with this? Is he cleaning his teeth? Here. Now?”

My brain wasn’t processing the reality. It quiet observation I was watching as he took my sticky wrap strip up to his still smiling mouth and used his fingers to tap my wrap on his bottom teeth, again peeling it off.

Never uttering a word to confirm my observation, what I know happened was: a man flossing his teeth, on our first date, with the sticky wrap of flatware. This was who he is!

And this, my friends, might be the reality of dating.

We are indeed who we have become.

Get your lists ready, so when a similar shock hits you, you aren’t stunned into silence. I don’t ever recall in all my life a time when I was silent like this time.

I no longer count my first dates. While I’m more guarded and educated about dating lies and scams, I just share those events with my family and friends. Then when I hear myself, I know – I must be crazy. But you gotta admit it is one way to laugh again.

Gotta first date experience you want to share? No worries if not. I’ll have more for you.

The post Dating Realities in My Widowhood appeared first on Patricia Weber.

Widows and widowers can integrate the facts, feelings, and faith to strengthen us in our widowhood season. Part of my working career was as a corporate trainer and speaker. My first speaker’s bureau representative thought she could make something attractive out of my cerebral approach to customer service, sales, and leadership issues. So here’s a glimpse of that integration.

I thought little of this for those 20 plus years. Now with 4 years into this widow season, I realize, in part, it’s what keeps me moving forward.

Thanks to the last man I dated, who likely unknowingly helped me realize I may be using my feelings to find the facts. And guess what?

Feeling more in these long days of healing and growing may help me move further forward.

First, let’s consider that often people believe only facts can guide us best. So then, if I think back to the first year of Marty’s death, the fact is, he died. Another fact is, I felt I wanted to die. 

We can integrate facts, feelings, and faith and strengthen ourselves.

I planned how to kill myself with the least amount of mess for anyone who found me. Yeah, I know. Likely I’ll be tidy until my end. 

Goodbye, dad, goodbye Marty, goodbye mom in that season of pummeling. This kind of loss is labeled complicated grief. Yeah, it’s tough. And it’s a fact.

Then I remember my pastor told me, “If you have a suicide plan, it’s time to call the National Suicide Hotline.” Recognizing this, I made the call. 

The rep who answered circled me back to my psychiatrist. When I filled her in on my situation, she pulled back on my recently prescribed anti-depressant medication dosage. Within a couple of days, the thoughts and feelings subsided.

But while anyone might have thoughts of suicide, and it could be higher for widows than we assume. Life can be challenging, and widowhood is undoubtedly harder for so many reasons. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/578535;

Second, it is possible to use our feelings to uncover the facts. Recently my meditations have gone in this direction. Thanks to a free app that personalizes my meditation experience daily! I don’t care, as some of you may, how it does this. 

I care why this new app does this. But then you already know in part.

Widows and widowers are different. We certainly have some unique challenges which may have arrived in our life unexpectedly or not. 

Take the sometimes heavy feeling of loneliness. As an introvert, I can tell you I was never lonely, as some introverts may know and be okay for them. 

But as someone married for more than half my life to a wide-open life-loving extrovert, I find the entire widow’s experience a lonely trial. That’s one reason to get and be connected.

I love the groups I can find connection with “where everybody knows your name,” as the saying from a famous sitcom Cheers, 1982 to 1993, is known for.

Making your way in the world today

Takes everything you got

Taking a break from all your worries

It sure would help a lot

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name

And they’re always glad you came

You want to be where you can see

The troubles are all the same

You want to be where everybody knows your name

(Better have a good night)

You want to go where people know

The people are all the same

You want to go where everybody knows your name

Discerning who I hang out with is another reason I choose more socialization with widows and widowers: they know more than my name about me without saying a word.

Finally, I lean on my faith in God to help me every day. I talk with God every day, even 4 years out from that day that changed my life as I knew it. Pray, praise, complain, and express gratitude.

The Bible is full of wisdom about faith in the hardest of times. That’s likely because life can be cruel. Some times are more complicated than others. 

One of my favorite verses serves as a reminder of the kind of God we have:

Hebrews 11:6 AMP

6 But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

When I lose hope and faith, thank God, which is less and less each day, it’s so convenient to just have scripture in mind. Whether it is the entire verse or a portion of one, I find it reconnects me to something and Someone who is more significant than me, Someone who has told me to come and lay my burdens down at His cross. And I am not afraid to do this several times a day!

Whether my faith on any day is up or down can actually depend on the fact and feeling that there is something bigger than just me. Or even the collective of widows and widowers. 

There is a God who has this plan … a God who can when I cannot. I am one who is widowed who can integrate the facts, feelings, and faith to strengthen this widowhood season.

What’s your formula for strengthening yourself to where you are in your widow walk? 

How does it work for you?

Others and I would love to hear from you.

The post Widows and widowers can integrate facts, feelings, and faith and strengthen ourselves appeared first on Patricia Weber.