Dear Heavenly Father,
There are days when I feel suffocated and overwhelmed by loneliness. It's like a heavy, dark blanket pressed to the face and I'm powerless to pull it away. It drains my strength and hope; its like arthritis of the soul---it just won't go away. How can I live like this? How can I go on when my soulmate--the one person I can't live without, the one who was a part of me, who completed my sentences, who filled my thoughts, pleasured my existence, and gave purpose to my days? How can I go on when he's gone?
Life has blown up and been scattered to the wind. I am a solitary speck in a lonely wasteland, a wandering soul in a dry, empty desert . . . Amen.
I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins.
I lie awake;
I have become like a bird alone on a roof.
Psalm 102:6,7
Have you been in such a lonely place? Like a bird on the rooftop, watching life pass you by? Prayers and verses like the ones above are labelled as "laments," by theologians. They provide no answer, they only express the honest cry of the heart.
What?!! No answer? No three-point sermon or 12-step plan?
Nope. A lament is just a simple, honest heart cry.
God's OK with honesty, with laments. He wants us to bring Him the loneliness and pain we feel. He understands and accepts us; if we've confessed our sins He hears our prayers even though we wonder about that at times.
If you're lonely today, tell the Lord about it. If you're not, then please pray for widows and many other people who experience this echoing silence moment by moment.
♥ ferree
Dear Ferree ~ The loneliness can be so overwhelming at times. It's been almost 5 months now since my dear husband went home to be with Jesus. I am here in our temporary earthly home trying to carry on as best I can.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I couldn't get back to sleep for thinking about all of the iron collected through the years that my husband found curbside. He did not like to see useable items heading to the landfill. We used a lot of different things found, and we had started making trips to the scrap yard for $$ before he took ill last year. There is still quite a lot to get rid of. Now it seems like too much to handle so this morning I cried out to God for help and remembered words to an old hymn too, as tears streamed down my cheeks.
Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall, Precious Lord take my hand and lead me home.
I am a positive, happy person, but losing my best friend and soulmate has drained me. My husband would want me to find my way back again and with Jesus by my side, I can and I will. He is my strength.
The silence can be deafening at times. I don't watch TV, don't play the radio, so it is very quiet here in our little humble abode.
I have found a local Christian widows group and have been to the meetings which meet once a month, twice now. Those ladies have such a twinkle in their eyes and are trusting in God every step of this journey.
God meets all of our needs.
Thank you for your blog and your encouraging and uplifting words.
FlowerLady Lorraine
P.S. ~ People have let me know they are praying for me and I can't put into words what that means to me. I know it works as God is tenderly caring and comforting me each and every day. Some days the grief is heavier than others, but I am moving forward.
ReplyDeleteI also pray for other widows and there several with whom I exchange emails.
Dear Jesus ~ Bless widows around the world as they learn to trust you daily to fill the void left by the loss of their dear husbands.
Thank you for prayers, for love and support. Thank you for Christian blogs and support groups for widows as they are a tremendous blessing in letting us know we are not alone, and that there is hope.
Thank you Jesus ~ Amen.
i have never felt so lonely in all my life.the silence is deafening.i turn the t v on as soon as i walk in the door.no one comes over except my daughters but they are greiving also so its hard for them to come here but they do.im at ten months now and i havent heard from anyone from the church in many months.i havent been there either since my husband died.its too painful and i know ill fall apart.i was told that they would come by in the beginning and check on me but no one has.if i hear of any women losing her husband i will call her every day to see if there is anything i could do to help or just to talk.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your loneliness. May The Lord send someone to be there for you and support you.
DeleteMarisol❤
Dear Lorraine, I don't think people expect widowhood to be this hard. I know I sure was surprised at the engulfing loneliness and ache. I remember the song you mentioned, Precious Lord, Take my hand---I've learned that often there's no reason for these songs and hymns to come to mind except that the Lord Himself has brought them to us, He loves us and ministers comfort and calm. I know many readers will be so touched by your words, and I thank you for sharing your heart and your prayer for other widows.
ReplyDeleteAnd Anonymous,Good for you, that you will reach out to other women when you hear they are widowed. I'm so sorry no one has followed up with you. I know that so often, people assume everything is fine when they don't hear from the widow. They should check on her, but they get distracted. So don't hesitate to give the church a call sometime and ask for a visit. If there's still no response, I will pray with you that God will help you find other friends and a good local support group. We need people in our life, as I'm sure you know all too well.
hugs to you and Lorraine.
Dear Anonymous ~ I pray that Jesus will supply you with love, strength and friendship. No one knows what it's like to lose your spouse, until it happens to you.
ReplyDeleteLove, hugs and prayers ~ FlowerLady
Dear Ferree ~ Thank you for your loving understanding and encouragement.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs ~ FlowerLady Lorraine