A note to Widows

Our HOW (Hearts of Women) group celebrated out first year anniversary last month.  It is a group of about 20 women who have gathered together and have offered support, encouragement, hope and fellowship to each other as they make their way onward on their journey of life.  Jan and I have been blessed by this group too deep for words but last month they took our breath away by surprising us with a most heartfelt gift.  We received a beautiful and wonderfully soft prayer shawl, each knitted for us personally by color and size by Janet Sutton, a precious member of this group who we have known since our first meeting,  and a beautifully crafted intricately designed card by Robin Denniger, another one of our precious friends who we met early on. (As a side note Robin and Janet did not know each other before this group and they have become wonderful friends through this ministry as have many others...God is so good!)    

The front of the card had "HOW" written out in hand crafted letters but a closer look showed us that the sticks and cross bar of the letter "H" incorporated the verse "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you but plans to give you hope for the future." The "O" encompasses the verse: "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of others who love God and are called to his purpose of love of them". And the "W" : "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight".  

All three of these verses were chosen from little verse handouts that we give at the close of each meeting with a rose.  It was incredible creativity.  But if the shawl and the signed card of all these precious friends was not enough,  there was a poem enclosed written by the same lady who created the card, and this my friends is the main point of this note.  This poem is one that should be shared and held up to every precious woman who has found herself on this path of grief and is finding her way through support, comfort and love, of God and the friends, who he has put on their path.

This is one strong group of women and their support, love and understanding of each other has given them strength and hope and might beyond their own expectations. 

I share this poem, with permission from Robin and hope that you too will pass it along to those you know who have wrestled and continue to wrestle with the HOW's of the journey. Blessings, Cathy

                               HEARTS OF WOMEN
                                   


HEARTS OF WOMEN STRONG AND PURE
JUST HOW MUCH CAN THEY ENDURE?
YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT HOW THEY COPE,
AND HOW THEY NEVER GIVE UP HOPE
IN FINDING THAT WHICH HEALS THE STRIFE
AND GIVES THEM A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.


AN INNER COMPASS AND GUIDING HANDS
HAVE JOINED AS ONE TO FORM A PLAN.
AND THROUGH THE MIST A PATH EMERGES
BORDERED BY GREAT STRENGTH AND COURAGE.
HERE THERE ARE OTHERS DRAWING NEAR
IN THIS PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO FEAR.


THROUGH THICK AND THIN AND UPS AND DOWNS
THEY STAND TALL WITH NEW FRIENDS THEY HAVE FOUND
WHO'LL LIFT THEM UP TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS
AND SHOW THEM HOW TO RADIATE LIGHT
TO MORE OF THOSE WHO NEED TO KNOW
JUST HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOW TO GROW.


TO SEE PAST DREAMS OF TIMES FORGONE
AND SHARE WITH THOSE THEY CAN COUNT ON
TO LISTEN AND TO UNDERSTAND.
BECAUSE THEY KNOW TOO WELL FIRST HAND
JUST HOW THIS ALL HAS COME TO BE
THAT HEARTS ARE OPEN FOR YOU AND ME.


                                               ROBIN DENNINGER

  

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!