I have the honor of watching and being in communion with some incredible widows (young and old). Their strength encourages me to keep going on hard days. I wrote this a few nights back after a long day of work and hours filled with difficult decisions and choices. God gave me these words as a reminder….

There is something powerful about the strength of a widow. Her resilience, her drive, Her broken spirit that has been carefully mended and crafted back together.

There is something about a widow. Her ability to rise above and overcome all while moving forward bowing her head in humble reverence.

There is something about the way she wears dignity and strength—not of her own but that of her Maker.

There is something sacred about the unity and communion she has with the one who is rebuilding her day by day.

There is something about the reflection she sees when she looks up and is faced with the reality of everything she must carry. There’s something about the softness in her touch when you know the battle scars endured to feel the warmth of life flowing through it again.

There is something about the fierceness in her heart when the thought of her children sparks a fire that blazes with such intensity.

There is something about her, something about me, something about the place we wake up in and know that another sunrise has come; and we can proclaim that through the graciousness of a good God that we made it another day.

There is something about a widow when the heart holds its breath questioning to allow it to beat again—knowing the choice has to be made to let it keep beating—to let it keep fighting.

A widow is like a spring morning, a constant glimmer of new growth pushing through the old to bring about the new. And to the nights that bite bitter cold and to the heart cries that are heard down the road begging God to take it away—we take it and place it at His feet time and time again. We do this knowing that God may not take it away, but that our ashes will see beauty yet.

To my beautiful widow friends:You are seen. You are not forgotten. I am honored to know you, share life with you and learn from you. You are priceless to me, to my family and to the kingdom.