Pastors and church leaders are responsible for countless things. Unfortunately, in many churches, ministry to widows remains largely neglected and forgotten. Highlighting the Bible’s recurring commands to care for widows with sensitivity and compassion, this book encourages church leaders to think carefully about how to serve the widows in their congregations and suggests practical strategies to that end. In part 1, the authors summarize the Bible’s consistent teaching regarding the care of widows. In part 2, the authors offer hands-on counseling and a host of practical suggestions related to ensuring that widows receive the support and encouragement they need to thrive in the church.
Writing from a biblical perspective, Carol Cornish helps readers to discover how God is working in the midst of the deep distress of losing a spouse. She provides the reader with direction in finding true and lasting comfort in Christ. Cornish, who lost her husband of 38 years to lung cancer, encourages widows to use their widowhood for God's glory. Ministry to widows needs to be a priority for Christian communities, and Cornish equips churches, families, and friends to come alongside those mourning the loss of a spouse. The Undistracted Widow includes sections to help widows find renewed identity and purpose. Cornish helps readers trust in God, manage emotions, learn from both biblical and contemporary widows, rethink the past, present, and future, and prepare for what's next. Pastors, churches, and others will benefit from practical appendices. Any woman who is grieving the loss of her husband, or who knows of someone in mourning, will find this to be a valuable resource.
The Profession of Widowhood explores how the idea of ‘true’ widowhood was central to pre-modern ideas concerning marriage and of female identity more generally. The medieval figure of the Christian vere vidua or “good” widow evolved from and reinforced ancient social and religious sensibilities of chastity, loyalty and grief as gendered ‘work.’ The ideal widow was a virtuous woman who mourned her dead husband in chastity, solitude, and most importantly, in perpetuity, marking her as “a widow indeed” (1 Tim 5:5). The widow who failed to display adequate grief fulfilled the stereotype of the ‘merry widow’ who forgot her departed spouse and abused her sexual and social freedom. Stereotypes of widows ‘good’ and ‘bad’ served highly-charged ideological functions in pre-modern culture, and have remained durable even in modern times, even as Western secular society now focuses more on a woman’s recovery from grief and possible re-coupling than the expectation that she remain forever widowed. The widow represented not only the powerful bond created by love and marriage, but also embodied the conventions of grief that ordered the response when those bonds were broken by premature death. This notion of the widow as both a passive memorial to her husband and as an active ‘rememberer’ was rooted in ancient traditions, and appropriated by early Christian and medieval authors who used “good” widowhood to describe the varieties of female celibacy and to define the social and gender order. A tradition of widowhood characterized by chastity, solitude, and permanent bereavement affirmed both the sexual mores and political agenda of the medieval Church. Medieval widows—both holy women recognized as saints and ‘ordinary women’ in medieval daily life—recognized this tradition of professed chastity in widowhood not only as a valuable strategy for avoiding remarriage and protecting their independence, but as a state with inherent dignity that afforded opportunities for spiritual development in this world and eternal merit in the next.
"Widow" is one title women do not want to have. Yet, according to the Surgeon General’s office, 800,000 people become widows or widowers every year in the United States alone. Every aspect of a widow’s existence changes—like it or not, ready or not. These changes add to the emotional roller coaster that most women experience after losing their husband. Miriam Neff understands the ride. As she struggled to understand and accept her new role after her husband’s death, she recognized the need for women to hear from others about their experiences and what helped them transition to this new stage of life. From One Widow to Another offers practical advice for those facing the loss of a spouse. Drawing from her own loss, Neff walks with the reader through practical issues to a sense of encouragement.
Sixteen women from all walks of life share their stories of widowhood in this “wonderful collection of ‘life after loss’ experiences” (Natalie Treadwell, founder of Food for Life). When author and life coach Mary Francis found herself widowed at fifty, she turned to other widows for support, understanding, and answers. Now she shares some of the stories that helped her find a new beginning for herself in The Sisterhood of Widows. This powerful book of healing contains sixteen true stories from women who reflect on their lives after the death of their husbands. These women, whose husbands died from accidents, cancer, heart attacks, and even suicide, share their stories openly and honestly. Every widow handles loss differently, yet there is a common bond they share that makes them part of a sisterhood. And each widow’s story provides guidance and insight into the journey of perseverance through grief.
Single at 32, married at 33, and widowed at 34. Virginia Lloyd finally meets the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, only to discover he is dying from cancer. After John dies, Virginia must battle the chronic rising damp in the house they had shared. And so in her first year as a young widow, Virginia, like the house, must dry from the inside out. "The Young Widow's Book of Home Improvement" is a wry and touching love story that plays with the parallels between our homes and ourselves.
“It’s a real pleasure watching this friendship between two women in middle age blossom and evolve . . . Entertaining, intelligent and emotionally rewarding.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review When Agatha Griffin finds a colony of bees in her warehouse, it’s the not-so-perfect ending to a not-so-perfect week. Busy trying to keep her printing business afloat amidst rising taxes and the suppression of radical printers like her son, the last thing the widow wants is to be the victim of a thousand bees. But when a beautiful beekeeper arrives to take care of the pests, Agatha may be in danger of being stung by something far more dangerous . . . Penelope Flood exists between two worlds in her small seaside town, the society of rich landowners and the tradesfolk. Soon, tensions boil over when the formerly exiled Queen arrives on England’s shores—and when Penelope’s long-absent husband returns to Melliton, she once again finds herself torn, between her burgeoning love for Agatha and her loyalty to the man who once gave her refuge. As Penelope finally discovers her true place, Agatha must learn to accept the changing world in front of her. But will these longing hearts settle for a safe but stale existence or will they learn to fight for the future they most desire? Praise for book one of the Feminine Pursuits series by Olivia Waite: “Waite delivers a luscious gem with The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics . . . a bittersweet read that will make your heart ache, bursting with genuinely funny, remarkable surprises.” —Entertainment Weekly “Simply stellar in every way.” —Booklist, starred review “Waite delivers a sweet lesbian romance with a hint of spice, fitting into the decorum of the era.” —Library Journal
Women who are facing the reality of widowhood are often connected by a common thread of grief and uncertainty. Hope for an Aching Heart offers encouragement to help readers handle the challenges of each day with God’s grace. Sharing from a widow’s heart, the author weaves personal stories, Scripture, and prayers into 60 days of inspirational thoughts that motivate readers to draw closer to God. This heartfelt and engaging devotional helps to broaden women’s understanding of the depth of God’s love, His tender care, and His promise to always be with them.
Rick Renner unearths a rich treasure trove of truths in his remarkable devotional. Drawing from an extensive study of both the English Bible and New Testament Greek, Rick illuminates 365 passages with more than 1,285 in-depth Greek word studies. Far from intellectualizing, he blends his solid instruction with practical applications and refreshing insights. Find challenge, reassurance, comfort, and reminders of God's abiding love and healing every day of the year.
EVER WISH YOU COULD HELP OTHERS GET PAST THE PAIN? Do you feel that you can help other widows because you know what they are going through? This is exactly true! Only another widow can comprehend what this is. Maybe you think you need to find your own way first. Ever wish you had a life coach who was also a widow to connect with? The Widow Coach not only teaches you how feel better, but how to help other widows move forward in widowhood. The bestselling author of Widowed, Joann Filomena, shares with you her experience as a widow coach, the life coaching tools she has used in helping widows, and how you can turn the worst thing that ever happened to you into an accomplishment you will feel so proud of. Become confident as a coach while being an amazing example of what is possible for other widows Learn actual life coach tools to help others Help others identify what the priorities in their life are and how they have changed since loss You will know how to assist others through their unique process of grief Honor the story that you shared with your spouse as you begin the next chapter of your life as a coach It is Joann Filomena's goal for every widow to be able to connect with a widow coach - and this is where YOU come in. Joann speaks directly from the heart, widow to widow, having experienced the sudden loss of her husband. She is a professional life coach and widow coach instructor, as well as producer and host of Widow Cast podcast.
