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“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.”
Psalm 18:28 (NIV)

Pressing in

Many years ago, Steve and I went to St. Louis, Missouri to see our first-born son who had recently relocated there from Texas. Taking our other two grown children, we decided to see a Cardinal baseball game. Arriving early, because that is very important to true baseball fans, we were instantly surrounded by other early birds.

Suddenly, the slight breeze we could feel earlier was blocked from all the bodies pressing in towards the entrance gate. To my horror, I realized the fancy body cream I had bought earlier and smeared all over myself wasn’t such a good idea. Huge beads of oily sweat began running down my legs. Because Steve could usually find solutions for major problems, I told him I needed help. Off he went. My souvenir that night was an awesome Cardinal golf towel that I quickly used to dry myself off.

Fanning myself, thinking I would surely faint, the admission gates were finally opened and the crowd began to push forward, excited to be attending the game.

I have thought many times about that crowd pushing, pressing in towards their destination. For those baseball lovers, it was to find their seats with the anticipation of the start of that game. For me, I have wondered what it might look like to see a group of widows pressing in to get to Jesus.

Widows are special

Did you know that widows are mentioned 81 times in the Bible according to “JesusAlive.cc”? You and I are part of a special group. I’ve read about ‘us’ since I was old enough to read and study the Bible for myself.

Because there is no one who knows our hearts better than Jesus, how could we ever doubt that He wouldn’t be affected by the sorrow of our loss!

I may not have stood in front of a mirror and taken note of the sorrow stamped across my face, but I have seen it clearly on other widows.

Sadness takes a terrible toll on our countenance. Widow’s fog is a very real thing and can make you feel like you are losing your mind. Grief affects us both emotionally and physically.

Psalm 146:9 tell us that the Lord sustains the widow. And in Psalm 68:5, God is the defender of widows in His holy habitation.

Our Lamps are Ready

The parable of the ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the Bridegroom, is a familiar one. All had lamps, but only five were prepared for the wait, taking extra oil. There was a shout at midnight, “Behold the Bridegroom! Come out to meet Him.”

Those prepared with enough oil to keep their lamps burning went in with the Bridegroom to the wedding feast. The door was then closed, shutting out the virgins who were not prepared.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

Homesick for Heaven

There should be something different about us widows, like we know something no one else does.

Our eyes are heavenward, pressing forward and waiting.

Can you imagine our reunions? All sorrow erased.

Ready for our Groom

There are no foolish among us. Widowhood has taught us so much. With our lamps lit, filled with oil and extra at the ready, we press forward with outstretched arms. It is Heaven we long for.

Recently, I found an old voice message from Steve.

“I love you. I miss you. I’ll be glad when you get home.”

It will be my Bridegroom, Jesus, I see first when I get Home. I will fall at His feet and thank Him for all He has done for me. I believe that He will then whisper in my ear, “He’s right over there.”

And there will be no more tears, sorrow, or separation ever again.

Dear Heavenly Father, we are homesick for Heaven. As the world watches, may they see our lamps ever burning as we wait on Your coming. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen