WIDOWHOOD–A Promotion?

W

by Ruth Frazier

IDOWHOOD—a promotion? Definitely not one I would have chosen . . . but the choice was not mine.

As I sat in the Phoenix, Arizona, Inter- national Airport awaiting my flight home to Charlotte, North Carolina, my mind was overwhelmed:

This couldn’t have really happened. How can I manage life without Bob? Exactly what happened? When? This can’t be true. Who told our children, and how are they handling it? How will I take care of myself? Who will pastor the church? Where will I work? What about a funeral? Where will I bury him? This isn’t real. How can I live without Bob? This could never happen to me!

The initial emotions were shock and denial; then grief, pain, and sorrow. Life turned from color to black and white. Alone and grieving. The quiet—how quiet! But then the quiet turned to reflection. In the stillness, I heard God’s voice. And

in God’s voice there is comfort: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped” (Psalm 28:7 NIV).

I felt compelled to study what the Bible teaches about widows. According to Strong’s Concordance, there are 48 refer- ences to the word widow. The following scriptures relate to a widow who lives righteously:

• “You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter . . . and the widow who are among you, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide” (Deuteronomy 16:11).* • The Lord told the prophet Elijah, “Arise, go to Zarephath . . . and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you” (1 Kings 17:9). • “The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, but He will establish the boundary of the widow” (Proverbs 15:25). • Anna was an 84-year-old prophetess “who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37). • “Honor

widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grand- children, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and accept- able before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in

supplications and prayers night and day” (1 Timothy 5:3-5).

• “Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work” (vv. 5:9-10).

• “You . . . will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband” (Isaiah 54:4-5).

Through what I have studied, observed, and experienced, the word widow vitalizes precious meaningfulness. The righteous widow has deep faith, the sense of capabil- ity, and is faithful in prayers and supplica- tion. She is full of good works, responsible, resourceful, grateful, and dependable. She is an example and a mentor who practices meekness (strength under control). She leads a life full of God’s grace resulting in a great capacity for endurance and persever- ance. She is cherished, valued, honored, cared for, protected, and blessed. God gives her a peace that surpasses all under- standing. She is a rejoicing worshiper, her spiritual strength coming from depen- dence upon God.

While promotion into widowhood is not one I would have chosen, the Lord willed to take my spiritual leader, my protector, and my provider whom I loved with all my heart. But who better to care for me now than my Maker, the God of the universe!

* Unless otherwise marked, scriptures are

from the New King James Version.

Ruth Frazier was a pastor’s wife for more than 30 years until her husband, Robert, died in an accident last year. She tells the

complete story in her book, The Sweetheart Rose. Ruth lives in Gastonia, North Carolina.

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