Читать книгу Walk With Me, Jesus: A Widow's Journey - Ronda Chervin Ph.D. - Страница 4

"Till death parts us." No matter how long ago you made this promise, in the end the vows resound in your head with crystal clarity. Circumstances do not change the finality of it. Whether your loss happened without warning, or was the final, inevitable conclusion of a prolonged period of suffering, death is as relentless as the tide.

The most amazing part of losing a spouse is that, somehow, life does go on. The flowers have wilted, the casserole dishes are washed and returned, the headstone has been set on the grave. The condolence cards have been taken from the mantle, and the thank-you notes that kept you busy during those first sleepless nights have been posted.

What happens next? The course ahead of you may still be unclear. And so, we begin this "widow's walk." This prayer journal will help you to draw from a rich treasury of spiritual graces: Scriptures, quotes from and stories about the saints, and other prayers and reflection questions that will lead you to draw closer to Jesus, our Second Bridegroom, and His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is a model for us, having experienced during her lifetime the loss of her beloved spouse.

FOR PONDERING

At this moment, what would you say are three concerns or questions pressing most urgently upon your heart?

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Mother Mary, you understand the soul-rending grief of widowhood. Pray for me now, that I might have the courage to face the challenges ahead. Help me to remain open to everything God wants me to learn in this new chapter of my life.

Heavenly Father, I abandon myself to Your boundless mercy. Give me strength to follow You, even when the way is hard to see. Thank You for all the ways You show Your love to me, especially … [Name some of them here.]