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The other day a small piece of paper fell out of some books as I was sorting and cleaning up around the house. It was a little note my mother had written me shortly after we had both become widows. Three months after my husband passed away at 51, my father passed away in his late eighties. Mom and I had very different widow journeys because our situations were very different. She definitely grieved, but her loss felt more like joy in completing the race here on earth. My dad lived a long amazing life. But my journey wasn’t so neatly wrapped up with a bow. My husband had secret addictions that were revealed near the end of his life and eventually led to his death. I had six children in the home when he passed away. There were so many questions when he died.

All of these thoughts came flooding into my mind when I picked up that small piece of paper.

My mother rarely showed her emotions but she always had a verse of Scripture to encourage me. Sometimes I honestly didn’t want to hear it – I needed a physical presence taking out the trash or helping me with three teen boys. But when I set all those worries aside and focused on the things she shared, I was ALWAYS blessed to my toes. ALWAYS.

The note said this: It doesn’t make any difference how many broken pieces your life is in. Jesus knows exactly how to put them together. Christ, your Savior, makes your life worthwhile now and for all eternity.*

Do you feel like you have broken pieces? I know I did that day. I felt like my world was shattered for many months. Those plates were spinning and crashing to the ground. Finances. Parenting. Relationships. My mom knew just what I needed to hear that day. She added the passage from Jude 24-25 ESV:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Christ wants to take our broken pieces and put them back together. It will never be the same as it was before. I know I certainly had to accept that idea. But our lives can be new. Christ wants to make our lives worthwhile here on earth and for eternity. Who doesn’t want that?

It starts, Sister, with following Christ as a Believer. You can click this link if you want to know how to become a Christ follower based on Scripture from the book of Romans. It doesn’t come from following traditions of man or churches. It doesn’t happen when you attend a specific number of Sunday School classes to receive your perfect attendance award. Christ is the ONLY way to salvation. We can do NOTHING to earn it. NOTHING!

And after giving your life to follow Christ, you now have eternal life! It starts today! Your life has meaning and purpose! We know it won’t be without struggles, but you have Christ walking beside you in the struggles. He is gently putting the pieces of our lives together in a new way.

I never dreamed I’d be writing and speaking to widows all over the world. But that’s where God has me for the time being. I never dreamed either that I would marry a widower where we would be leading others through grief together. But again, that’s where God has me. God has put the pieces of my life together in a new way. I still have purpose because He has saved me and wants me to share His love with others every day. You have purpose just as you did before widowhood – to live your life to glorify God. It is amazing to see the ways God leads widows in new ministries and new adventures.

Buckle up, Sister, and watch the way God puts your broken pieces together!

Lord Jesus, thank You for presenting us blameless before God and that You do that with GREAT JOY! You put our broken pieces together so carefully and You can be trusted with each individual piece. Help us live our purpose each day, living each day to point others to You and glorify You. Amen

*From Charles Stanley’s daily reading calendar