Welcome to everyone who popped over from the P31 Encouragement for Today. We’re glad you’re here!
You know, the five of us who write for Widow’s Might are each walking our own unique journey, but we do have two things in common: One, we all check the ‘box marked widow’ on our tax returns, and two (in spite of number one,) we all Believe!
Seems like ‘Believe’ is everywhere this holiday season. 
At Macy’s and Hobby Lobby,
On Christmas trees and Christmas shirts.
Just the simple word ‘Believe’.
Frankly, some days. (today?), I need the reminder. To see the simple phrase to remind me that, in spite of it all, I believe.
Not that Santa is real (sorry, Macy’s).
Not that life is a fairy tale (my apologies, Disney).
But simply that God is who He says He is.
And I am who He says I am.
And He’s got this whole thing in His strong, capable, loving hands.
Tucked in the Christmas story is a simple promise we need to wrap our tired arms around and let seep into our whirling brains:
“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” Luke 1:45 (NIV)
So, if you are wrestling with why?….
“Still, I will trust in your unfailing love and my heart will choose to rejoice in your salvation.” Psalm 13:5 (NIV)
Believe it.
If the future has got you all spun up…
“I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for a future and a hope. Seek me and I will be found by you.” Jer. 29:11 (NIV)
Believe it.
“If you are having hard time even feeling that God is there…
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Believe it.
When you’re wondering if the sadness will ever end…
“You will fill me with joy again in your presence, and with eternal pleasures evermore” Psalm 16: 11 (NIV)
Believe it. 
The next time you see one of these simple signs, smile to yourself, knowing it is God’s reminder to us all.
Merry Christmas, sweet sisters. We love you!
Danita, Leann, Kittie, Julie and Leah
PS. Now get off the computer and get the rest of those presents wrapped!
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Christmas is one time we all struggle with missing our loved one who is gone. I’m recovering from a surgery last week and spending most of my time in bed. Each day at least one of my four boys crawls in with me and says, “I miss Dad.” Christmas just brings out those cherished memories of him, and try to relish those moments when we can curl up and smile a sad smile, but still a smile, and talk about how special his memory is to us. Merry Christmas, Danita. May your blessings feel warm because of your believing!
Bless you for these words of grace today! I am grieving the big sister I lost this year, and painful estrangements in my family of origin. Your verse from Phil.is my life verse, but I need as many reminders of it as I can get as I continually ask our Lord to “keep my foot from slipping” into that muddy river of sadness. Thank you and God bless.
Dear Danita,
Your devotion was such a blessing today. Thank you so much, I forwarded to many friends that I love and pray for. I read it aloud to my husband. I believe every word that you said and will print this to remind myself. I, to, have believe signs all over my house, but they aren’t to remind me of Christmas but of my love for my Savior.
Thank you for writing!
Dear Danita–Thank you–loved it !! I have seen Believe quite abit this Christmas!!! I hope you and your family have a very Blessed Christmas!! I hope you are doing okay Kitty!! Blessings to all of you,and BELIEVE!!!! Barb Wall
What powerful devotion – thank you so much, and thank your daughter so much, for the change of perspective lesson! I’m going to share this with my granddaughter who tends to focus on the branches that are not lit! We all do at times … I have been missing my husband so much, and trying to focus on the happy times we shared rather than on the sadness of not having him here anymore. Your devotion reminded me of the verse that says we are to share our comfort with others … you did that and I am grateful!
PS. Now get off the computer and get the rest of those presents wrapped! Too Funny. I do have quite a few presents to wrap and here I am on the computer. My Christmas Tree laid in a heap on the floor in the middle of the living room for 3 days. Yesterday I set it up and got the lights on it. I am awaiting the arrival of my children today. They will help me finish decorating it. 8). I didn’t realize that Christmas would be so hard. I find myself constantly trying to focus on the Reason for the Season. I found the poem “Christmas in Heaven” by by Wanda Bencke. It made me smile to think that my hubby is walking with the King, The verses on Sadness, Joy, Hope, and the Future are all the issues I have been struggling with on a daily basis. My mind knows, but my heart is slow to follow. They will be printed out and hung in my office. Thanks for your words of encouragement and motivation (wrap those presents) lol! Have a Merry Christmas.
Christmas Cheers,
Joni
I am choosing to “believe it” sweet sister! Love this post and love you too!!!! Merry CHRISTmas!
Saw another Believe sign today in Walmart and had to smile..even in the midst of the happy family shopping trips around me.
. Joni – yes, we do have to train our minds. They just want to go to the ‘dark place’ , don’t they! Michelle – I like your muddy river analogy. Carlene, Rose, and Barb…Blessed are those who have not seen…and yet Believe !!! Leah, and Kittie – you ( and your writings) are a blessing to my life ! Love to all and Merry Christmas.
I was widowed in 2000 after 45 years of marriage..made it through with the Lord’s help, family and friends. Then in 2008, remarried to a wonderful man I had known 50 years ago (Yes, I am now in my 70s)…we were married only 3 short years before he passed away 10 months ago with a stroke. Somehow this has been much harder than the first time. I just found this website and already it has comforted me. There is no age limit on grief, it happens to all of us sooner or later. Thank you so much for your words of comfort and healing. I like the thought about training our minds, but sometimes that is so hard to do..my mind wants to stay on the happy times we had together. We packed more into those 3 short years, traveling and just being together than all the previous years! I thank the Lord for the blessing of wonderful children and grandchildren to help me through.
First time here at your site and wow – was a reflection of my Christmas prep. Our first without my husband who died suddenly and unexpectedly at 48 in February. As I decorated with my 2 young boys, our tree did the same thing! And my youngest said, That’s okay mom, it’s still pretty! We are making our way through the season and though I believe, it’s still so very hard. Thank you for your words and I will look forward to visiting again!
So funny that as I was taking a break from my gift wrapping that I received an email from my daughter forwarding the P31 Encouragement for today. I know this was no accident as it led me to A Widow’s Might. I lost my husband two and a half years ago after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. We were married 36 years, have four beautiful children and six grandchildren (the last two he never got to meet). I have been encouraged by your words today and believe that God is who He says He is and I am who He says I am! Now that does not mean that I don’t still struggle on this journey of finding my new normal but it does mean that I don’t have to figure it all out on my own. My Father continues to hold me up and show me His unfailing love each day! I will be looking for those “Believe” signs when I am out and about. I think I also want to have one to display in my home as a reminder. Thank you for your words of encouragement today…so comforting to know we are not alone! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!
I so needed to read this today. I think this is the hardest Christmas season I have ever faced. Feelings so often get in the way of truth. Thank you so much for reminders of truth from Scripture.
I get the Proverbs devotional each day in my email and this one struck me too that I forwarded it on to many of my friends. I however had not scrolled all the way to bottom to learn about this website until today. The day after my first Christmas without my 48 year old husband, who died in July after a 15 year struggle with heart related issues. As I sat at my comupter this morning I was re-reading the devotional and crying again and this time I noticed the word widow. I made it through yesterday but today am feeling what I call the “after shock” like they get after an earthquake and my “earth” has certainly been “quaked” this year. I also wanted to tell SUSAN how sorry I am for her loss, I noticed her husband was the same age as mine as I read through the other comments.
I guess I really don’t know Who God is right now, I have always had a close relationship with Him but this loss has changed some of that, so now I feel like I am not only grieving the loss of my husband but also the loss of my relationship with God as it used to be.
Anyway thank you all for your comments and thanks to the lovely ladies who write this and I am so sorry for each of your sorrows.
Betty,
I wish I could somehow help you in your relationship with God. I have gotten CLOSER to God, now that Ken is gone. He was 46 when the truck struck him and he died 24 hours later. I told the Lord, “But I NEED him” as I walked through my house in the days after. And the Lord said, “If you needed him, I would have left him. You need only ME.” So I am finding out who God is, and how much He loves me. He led me to be saved (by my future husband’s gentle leading through the Bible) and He wants me. I want so much to be wanted, and yet I already am. Does that help any? All those gifts your husband gave you over the years were really from God! All those special times you remember with your husband were arranged for you so you could remember them, by your Heavenly Father! Isn’t He good? Tell Him all your fears, your gratitude, your triumphs, your questions. He’s right by your side, ready to show you what He wants you to do and think. Ask Him to guide your thinking. It will turn to loving Him and appreciating what He is doing. After all, He has been with you all these years and blessed you with your loving husband in the first place. He loves you so much! Rest in that thought. I pray for you to be enveloped with peace as I have been when I call out to Him. It has been one year and two weeks that I have had this new relationship with God. I know God has a plan for us all and we need to be humble and obedient. We don’t deserve all the good He showers on us, so every good thing that happens is more than we deserve. He loves to give us what we need and beyond what we need. He loves you.
Hi Jamie,
I just read what you took the time to write on behalf of my post and I wanted to not only thank you but to tell you how sorry I am for your loss of Ken at a young age as well.
Your words are of comfort. I know that God loves me I just don’t know exactly what that means in my life. Sometimes His ways seem too cruel and the love gets lost. Part of that comes from the abusive home I came from as a child and was only show a Father’s love through abuse.
Your words brought about healing tears and I thank you!
Betty…we are standing with you. He is real. He loves you. He will make a way through this exhausting valley. I (we) pray for you through the season that as you get quiet and cry out, He answers you…through a song, through a verse, through a friend or a quiet whisper. And maybe you can snuggle up in the fact that He led you to our site on purpose! That that was Him speaking to you. Bringing you to a place of hope. We have all been at a place of ‘God, where are you?, Who are you?’ His Father’s heart is perfect. This says is beautifully : http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html Love, love, love, Danita ps. thanks Jamie for your wonderful words to Betty- perfect !
ps…listen to it as well as read it. I just did. O my…I am crying
Thanks Danita!
You are so kind to respond and I appreciate you standing with me.
I did listen to the letter however I don’t find most of those things to be true in my life. I can see some of them but when they are measured up against the pain that He has allowed in my life since I was four then I think if that is His love then I don’t want that kind of love because it “feels” like the same love my earthly father gave, his “love” created much suffering, as so it seems with my Heavenly Father’s love.
That is where I am “stuck” and the pain of this loss of my husband is a moment to moment reminder that I wasn’t “loved enough” to be protected. WOW! I guess I can’t get any more honest and real then that!