Helping Others Through Spousal and Child Loss—Giving Grace and St. Francis Prayer

I just want to encourage all widows and singles to keep your eyes focused on Jesus--he is the "author" and "finisher" of our faith. I know when a thief stole my new television set I just hated to look at that big empty space which was a reminder that it was stolen every day and it took me six months to go out and replace it. There is a "timing" issue when it comes to replacing something in life so be sensitive to that timing issue and in the meantime make love your goal in life. Loving family, loving people, loving life, and #1 is loving God. Because love covers a multitude of faults. If we are going to look for problems, look for flaws, look for things to go wrong than they are going to happen. Expect good things for 2013! Vision yourself with good things. David visioned himself taking off Goliath's head. Whatever your Goliath is -- vision that its head is chopped off! (Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Helping Others Through Spousal and Child Loss—Giving Grace and St. Francis Prayer

Honour widows that are widows indeed. 1 Timothy 5:3

One of the things I did do with my mother who was widowed is I did not honor her. I got upset with her in that she moped around about my father being gone and I was very selfish as far as I was busy with my husband and children. I kept thinking “Why does this woman just get on with her life and focus on the grandchildren and us that she still has.”

I failed to give my mother grace. Every time I’ve been harsh on someone it comes back on me whether it’s at work, home or to others. I learned my lesson as far as reaching out to older widows and giving them true honor.

My children have done the same thing to me at times, but they know better from how I lost my mother in five years after my father, not to keep oughts against another person's actions in going through loss.

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:2

My mother said the same thing happened to her that when my father had cancer she judged him for the way he handled his illness.

“Lord please make me a more compassionate person.”

St. Francis Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.