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911 – What is your emergency?

Sunday morning, July 17, 2016

At sixty-two years of age, I had never made a 911 call.

After a wonderful day of celebrating with family, my husband, Steve, complained of pain high in his right shoulder. Just like hundreds of times before, we sat in our bathroom trying to figure out the reason for his pain. As Steve headed back to bed, I went downstairs for an ice pack. In the two minutes I was away from him, he suffered a massive heart attack. The artery behind his heart ruptured. They called it “The Widow Maker”.

I remember my screams for help. I watched as our sons and son-in-law performed CPR. Life-saving measures continued as he was transported by ambulance then helicopter to a hospital in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The day continued with Code Blue sounding over and over as doctors worked tirelessly to get his heart to beat again. All attempts were unsuccessful, and our family was led to Steve’s side to say our goodbyes.

In one heartbeat, all I had known before changed.

I walked out of that hospital leaving my best friend, my husband, and the father of our children.

There I was, standing at a road never traveled … street sign, Journey of Grief Boulevard.

If I were to search for a support group for a chocolate addiction, or an out-of-control shopping issue, insecurities, I would actively seek a group that would cater to my own, personalized need.

But there is an ever-growing number of ladies in my realm of acquaintances who have one thing in common. For you and me, this common bond is something we never wanted. If we were to see a banner advertising HELP FOR WIDOWS HERE, before the day we became one, we would have crossed the street, left the building, to get as far away as we could from even the word “widow” or the thought of what that would involve. We didn’t choose this identifier, did we?

But here we are.

Each of us with our own personalized story, specific to the date and circumstance around being given that title. You are one of those who I have the most awful thing in common. I wish I could run from this, but instead, I am drawn into your world through this bond.

I left that hospital that day in July, the hottest time in Texas, and landed in a cold and harsh “winter” season.

It has been a dark time of soul searching.

The Lord has never left me in this season. It is how I found A Widows Might, Inc. and ladies who desperately want to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. Because we have the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ and the plan He has for us, we will wait for spring to come and for His leading and direction. Until our spring arrives, we will rest and be carried for a while.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Isaiah 43:2. (NKJV)

Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for the comfort and peace only You can give. We have trusted You completely with our husbands’ lives and we pray now, Father, that we will trust You with ours. We thank You for this wonderful ministry where we can gather and find strength until we are in Your presence. Amen