How to Bless a Widow at Valentines
The first Valentine’s Day following the loss of my spouse felt like walking face-first into a wall. What was once a wonderful day, now left me feeling brused and shaken. Often we grieve in silence, moving forward with a pain that is not outwardly expressed.
It doesn’t have to stay that way.
As another February approaches, I am now able to fondly remember my spouse and even look forward with hope to the future. If you have been grieving, let me encourage you that, in time, you will see brighter days…
The month of February always kicks off with stores brightly covered in hearts, flowers and an explosion of love mementos. After loss, I reasoned that Valentine’s Day was just another holiday and I prayed for the strength to get through it. Honestly, Valentine’s Day made me feel so disappointed. Longing for our spouses while others celebrate love can be our catalyst to see things differently.
For those with hearts still healing, let us shift our focus and stand together on the truth of our Heavenly Father’s unending love and amazing grace:
I love 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (MSG) which says, “So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending (love), help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.”
Philippians 4:23 (MSG) says, “Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves.”
As followers of Jesus, the month of February can be a great time to love one another as He has loved us.
I encourage all of our newsletter readers to reach out and encourage your widowed brothers and sisters this February. You have no idea how any small act of kindness may really lift a grieving heart this season! What does that look like? Here are a few ideas:
- Suprise a widow with flowers.
- Gift tickets to a movie and then get a group of friends to join in.
- Surprise her with a gift certificate to a spa or professional massage.
- Ask a widow or widower if you may join them on an outing doing something they love to do.
- Or just spend time listening.
A lady I barely knew sent me a Valentine’s card in the mail that first year after I lost my spouse and it meant a great deal to me to be thought of and loved by others.
By showing genuine love, even with small gestures, to the widows/widowers in your life you are making a HUGE difference in their lives! You are reminding them of God’s love! Here are a few more verses on His undending love for us…
Isaiah 54:5
For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
Hosea 2:19 ESV
And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.
Hosea 2:16 ESV
“And in that day, declares the Lord, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’
Ezekiel 16:8-14 ESV
“When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. …
For more reading on grief in this time of year, check out https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-and-valentines-day-2014/
Carrie Stringer
Carrie is the Chapter Leader of the Widow Strong Team in Lufkin, TX. To learn more about Carrie, click here https://widowstrong.com/lufkin-texas-chapter/
