Posts Tagged With: widow

Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

May 6

I just got back from a trip to see my kids and grandkids and a cruise with my sisters. I had a good time…some tears, as expected.

But I came home to silence. Norm didn’t greet me at the door with a big kiss, a bear hug, and an “I missed you.” I had no help bringing my luggage into the house. We didn’t go out to Olive Garden to share what we had done while we were absent from one another.

I miss Norm. I’m not liking this new normal.

I am thankful for the time I had with Norm, he is the love of my life.

I pray for strength and courage to walk through this new normal.

I rejoice that in spite of how I am feeling and reacting, God’s love will continue to guide and to sustain me, and give me joy in the midst of the sorrow.

Where’s the joy? Today it is in the memories.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

April 24

This week Norm and I had planned a celebration cruise. Chemo was supposed to be finished. He should have had eight weeks of rehab and recovery. He bought a stationary bike so that his energy and stamina would be improved.

I decided to go ahead on the cruise. My sister will be joining me.

It’s just another reminder of what I’ve lost, another step in a world without Norm…my new normal. He used to joke that he was always Norm L.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful for the support of family and friends.

I pray for courage to keep from isolating myself.

I rejoice that God is always with me no matter what the circumstances.

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you, for I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 43:1-3

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

April 22

“It is what it is.” A coping quote for me, Norm didn’t like it, considering it the sign of a fatalistic attitude. But for me, it indicated a situation that would not change, and my need to figure out how to respond despite the circumstance.

My grandson, Sawyer, told his friends, “My mommy is sad because Poppop is dead.”

It is what it is. Norm is gone from this world. That won’t change. One day I’ll see him again in heaven, but right now, I need to figure out how to respond to life. I have a new normal…well, I’m trying to figure out my new normal.

9/11…we all got a new normal. We could no longer see friends off or greet friends at the gate. We had to remove shoes and belts to go through the long lines at the airports. Some of us have been subjected to embarrassing searches in the name of security.

Covid brought a new normal. I still give people space when in a line. A negative of covid, a lot of Americans are no longer kind. Hospitals and restaurants have to remind us to be kind to the people who are serving us.

It is what it is.

How am I adjusting? Some days better than others. Today I watched a recording of our church service from several weeks ago. I will say this, that is a positive result of covid, church services on line, so that we can hear what we’ve missed.

Chris spoke about the need for singing in our worship, and just for our life in general. When we sing the Word of God, we are engaging our minds, emotions and spirit, all with that one act. it encourages and lifts us up, so that we can serve the Lord more effectively.

The sermon made me realize that I’m not singing like I used to. I think it’s a side effect of what I’ve been through these last few months…but I don’t have to stay there. I can choose to sing. I can make a conscious effort to sing and praise the Lord, despite my circumstances.

When I got in the car today, I listened to the Imperials, the first song, “Praise the Lord”…regardless of the circumstances, the Lord is faithful.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful that the Lord gave us music to encourage, challenge, and uplift us.

I pray for wisdom to walk this new normal in a way that brings honor to Him.

I rejoice that God is always faithful and worthy of all praise and honor.

Where’s the joy? There are lots of reasons to have joy…music, family and friends.

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

April 17

Tough week. The reality of Norm’s death hits me everyday. My friends who are widows say that it will get better…they know…they’ve been there.

I’ve started a new Bible study on hope because right now, hope is my lifeline. My hope is in God, who is my salvation. Tomorrow we celebrate, actually we remember the death of Christ on the cross. He took all our sins and all our sorrows, dying and paying the penalty for our sins and rejection of the creator God. Sunday, we celebrate His resurrection. He came to give us life, eternal life.

Because of what Christ did on the cross…I have hope. Hope that God will guide me while I remain here on earth, hope that I will see Norm again when I go to walk with God in the garden.

I read Psalm 42 today.

As the deer pants for the streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.

Our spiritual self needs God in our lives, just as our physical self needs water. Sometimes dehydration sneaks up on us, we aren’t aware of how thirsty we are, but there will come a time when the thirst cannot be denied.

My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God. When can I go to meet with God?

God hears our prayers, He is the Living God who actively hears and sees us. he is always present even when we do not sense Him in our lives. Norm is walking with God, fully aware of who God is and how much God loves.

My tears have been my food, day and night, while men say to me, “Where is your God?”

It’s true, my tears fall down my cheeks, often unbidden, but there all the same. I’m never sure when they will overflow.

I don’t have anyone asking about God’s presence in my life. Indeed, I have a lot of encouragement from others of God’s faithfulness.

These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitudes, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

Songs of joy and festivity are not a part of my worship. Instead the worship songs bring tears to my eyes that pour down my cheeks.

Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in god, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to weep and a time to mourn. I’m in a time of weeping that will not last forever. There will be a time when the memory brings a smile, not tears. There will be a time when the songs I sing to the Lord will be joyful, not full of sorrow. There will be a time when the pain of loss will be wrapped and sealed, occasionally breaking out with a new wave of pain, only to be resealed by love and good memories.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful for the 44 years I had with Norm, and I’m thankful that I miss him, it reveals he meant a lot to me.

I pray for grace as I take the time to grieve my loss.

I rejoice that Jesus Christ came to earth as a man, to die on the cross so that I can have hope in the resurrection which leads to eternal life.

Where’s the joy? My joy is in the Lord…even when the tears fall.

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk.

April 15

It’s been a tough day. I saw this picture and thought “I will not see this smile again”…at least not until I get to heaven. On the worst of my days, Norm could always make me laugh.

Sometimes I can push through, other times I am overwhelmed with sorrow. I know it is to be expected, it doesn’t make the pain any less. When you love someone, it hurts when they are gone.

I miss his presence, his laughter, his wisdom…the house is very quiet without him. I can turn on the TV or music…just not the same.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful for the great memories that I have of Norm. We loved each other, raised wonderful kids, and had some great adventures.

I pray for grace for myself, and that I will extend grace to others.

I rejoice that God is faithful. He has a plan. I can trust Him to do what is best, and to walk me through the path He has laid out before me.

Where’s the joy? Great memories.

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

April 11

This is tough. I know I’ve said that before, and I knew it would be hard…but wow! It’s as if a part of me is missing. I took Norm’s presence for granted…his encouragements, his jokes, even the things that aggravated me…what I wouldn’t give for one more day…

The last two days I’ve done what was necessary, nothing more. The tears come at unexpected times.

I think I’ve contacted everyone I need to regarding Norm’s passing. There are still a few calls for subscriptions and credit cards, but those are not essential. I’m waiting for a few more papers that will need to be filled out, and copies of the death certificate sent.

Bills are coming in from his hospital stays and treatments. Norm always said that a person’s medical expenses are higher at the end of life than for all the years before. I don’t know how someone manages to pay those bills without insurance. I know a mega bill for the hospital stay is yet to come. I spoke to the insurance and a number of the bills are still under evaluation as to how much they will pay.

I don’t know if taking care of the details right after a death is a blessing or a curse. On one hand, it takes the focus off the loss, providing an activity that gives a momentary escape from grieving. On the other hand, the frustration of having to act quickly, finding phone numbers and filling out papers takes the focus off the loss making it difficult to grieve.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful that we have insurance, it doesn’t pay all, but it does pay some and every little bit helps.

I pray for wisdom and guidance as I walk the path before me.

I rejoice that God has all this in His hand. He knows my future. He knows every struggle that will come my way. He knows that I will have successes and failures. He has a plan for my life that is far better than I can see at this time.

Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me.

This I recall to miming, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentation 3:19-26

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

April 9

It’s been a little over a month since I said my final “I love you” to Norm. It seems far longer.

Yesterday as I returned from Savannah, GPS took me off the main highway due to road construction on I-40. Every turn reminded me of traveling through the hills with Norm and stopping for lunch at a local diner in the small towns. I drove through Maggie Valley and over Newfound Gap and remembered watching the elk that had gathered in each place and seeing Norm’s joy as he tried to take the perfect picture. He always hoped for that iconic shot of two male elk fighting it out…usually after a few bellows, one will run away.

When I got home, I started going through some things. I would start to ask Norm a question, and realize he wasn’t there.

I’d start to ask if he wanted to go do something, but he wasn’t there.

I dozed off and when I awoke, looked for Norm, but he wasn’t there.

I thought of something funny to tell him, about what Sierra and Sawyer had done, but he wasn’t there.

We had over 44 years together…but now, he’s not here. This is hard, but it is my new reality.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful for the years we had together and the memories that I will have for the rest of my life.

I pray for strength and wisdom to walk this path, realizing that I I will walk some of it alone, but I need to make sure I don’t isolate myself.

I rejoice that while people will leave, God will never forsake us. He promises to be with us always.

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. “For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Isaiah 43:1–3

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

April 3

We are coming up on a month since Norm passed. The celebration of life is completed. Aimee left two precious joys with me for a few days. They are keeping me busy.

Last night, Sawyer awoke, crying for his mommy. At first I tried to soothe him, but then I just joined him in the tears. How will I do this?

I have a number of widow friends, encouraging me…by just telling me they are praying. They’ve walked this path, some of them a couple of times. The only path is through the grief, embracing the love that grief reveals, and loving those who are still walking this earthly road.

At one point during Norm’s cancer and treatment, he said, “Everything has been taken away from me…except love. I still have God’s love, the love of my wife and children, the love of family and friends. The love they have for me does not depend on what I can do for them. Right now, I can do nothing except be a burden and they still love me.”

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
We love, because He first loved us.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

1 John 4:7–21

Where is the joy?

I am thankful for my family and friends who continue to encourage me in this walk.

I pray for the strength and wisdom to show love to others, not only by my words but by my actions.

I rejoice that God loved us and sent Jesus Christ to enable us to enter into God’s presence without fear.

Where is the joy? It is in the love of family and friends who are there in the good times and the bad.

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

March 25

I finally got through to Norm’s pension plan. I’ve tried to call for over a week and kept getting a busy signal. I found a number on one of the letters he had received, they gave me the number I needed. So I think I’m set, I’ll know if it all went through in a few weeks.

Then while doing taxes, I found that I needed a form from a financial company. They said click on this link to get the form. I needed an account number and a password, which I could not find. I called the number on the site. Since I didn’t have the required information, they said I needed to email another group for them to get permission to give me the form I needed…and that group said they no longer handled that particular financial issue. So…what to do?

I’ve handled our finances for quite a while. In fact, I was trying to make sure Norm knew where all the accounts and numbers and passwords were located. I thought I had what I needed for Norm’s accounts, but no. Suggestion for those of you with a spouse, make sure there is a copy of all your accounts and all passwords in a place that your spouse can find and that you have the same from your spouse.

As I deal with the financial aspect of Norm’s passing, this Saturday we will have a celebration of his life. I went through his memory box and found some high school memorabilia and some of his award photos and a newspaper article about him. I need to figure out the best way to display those…but there are a few things missing from his college days. I’ll have to see if there is another box somewhere.

It’s been a busy day, some success, some failures. Tears come at unexpected times. I miss Norm’s presence. I miss his wisdom. I know he’s in a better place, doesn’t make me miss him any less.

Where’s the joy? Not in paperwork…

I am thankful that I finally got through to Norm’s pension.

I pray for wisdom as I plan the service for Saturday, that it will honor the Lord, and celebrate the life Norm led.

I rejoice that God knows what I need and has it all under control.

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Do not worry then, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear for clothing?” For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

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Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

March 22

I came to see my grandchildren, Sierra and Sawyer. It’s been seven months since I have seen them in person. We’ve done some video chats, and while that is better than nothing, nothing replaces the personal touch. One of Norm’s greatest griefs, he did not see or hug his grandchildren since he got sick.

But before that, we had them with us for a full week of fun and laughter. We were able to visit them for Sawyer’s birthday…after that, video chats only…in the last few months, video recordings from them to their Poppop.

It’s bittersweet. Each event, playtime, eating…all remind me of what they lost in their Poppop. He played with them wholeheartedly, entering their imaginative play without hesitation. He switched scenarios with them as they brought new challenges to light.

They went on bear hunts, played hospital with all the stuffed animals, managed zoos, went to school, had great adventures of every kind.

They know he is gone, I know that because not once did they ask when Poppop was coming. Their conversations of him were sweet, filled with the laughter that signified their times with Poppop.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and now flow as I consider the loss to my grandchildren of their Poppop who loved them and would do anything for them.

Where’s the joy?

I am thankful for all the times Sierra and Sawyer had with Poppop. They have some physical reminders, a clubhouse, a mud kitchen and a climbing wall which he built for them.

I pray for them, that they will come to know the Lord and to follow Him as Norm loved the Lord.

I rejoice that the memories are good.

Where’s the joy? It is in the laughter and joy of youth, who rejoice each day in all that life brings their way…and can always find the good in it.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives ones such child in My name receives Me;” Matthew 7:1-5

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