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What do I do now?

I know I’m not the only woman who finds herself single for the first time in decades, but I am a bit more reclusive than most. Perhaps some of the readers of A Widow’s Might may be that way also and could benefit from what the Lord has shown me.

My husband and I loved puttering around our small cottage and in our workshop and gardens on projects. It’s what we did, and what I long to do—be at home, among our projects—our world.

Before we found out he was ill…

We’d find simple ways to expand that world. We together collected ‘curbside’ goodies—furniture, household goods, and garden pieces that found their way from someone’s curb to our home. My husband considered these gifts from God. Some made their way into projects while others were sold. But many pieces inevitably ended up in what we joked about as our own private ‘junk yard’.

Before he went to be with Jesus…

My husband had started to clean up that junkyard. He told me his workshop would now be mine. It was his dream come true, and he had it set up the way he wanted and only needed for us to rid ourselves of the scraps of unnecessary items. Now the workshop is mine and I want to do it for myself and learn new skills.

But I looked around and saw unfinished projects we were working on along with that private “junkyard”, and questioned my next steps.

It was at that moment I asked, “What do I do now?”

People around me tried to answer—“do this”— “do that”.

I took it up with the Lord. Then something came to me one day while I was working in my main garden. In the end, it is not the people I listen to.

What I do now is between Jesus and me.

And that’s what I have to say to other widows. It’s between Jesus and you. He is the one for me to turn to. I’ve always believed in Him and trusted Him for so much in my life, but now He is the One I ‘do’ for. He is now my Husband.

As a widow I find myself having to draw on the Lord for strength to make plans for putting my life in order. For now, those plans are simple—keep doing what I’ve been doing… puttering in God’s garden.

Ladies, there is nothing wrong with doing what I’ve been doing all along.

Puttering inside and out. Taking care of daily chores. Working at my part-time job. Resting in the tender loving care of Jesus, my Lord, and Savior, Who is now my Husband and loves me dearly. He will guide me in the way I should go. His plans for me I may not know of, but I know that He works all things out for good and for His glory. I am to continue to trust in Him, to wait on Him, and to be of good courage.

I stood there in my garden, leaning on the rake, feeling the gentle breezes. I looked up at the big blue sky and thanked Jesus for being with me every step of this journey—for filling my stressed mind and broken heart with His healing peace, love, and strength.

I read the other day to look at each day as an adventure. Also, I read that widowhood is a gift from God. It draws us closer to Him through our deep loss. He has helped me in many little ways here in the beginning of this next phase of my life, and I know he’s going to help me in big ways too.

God has loved each of us from the beginning.

All we have to do is believe He is Who he says He is and trust in Him for everything. He has promised to never leave or forsake us.

May I continue to grow graciously in His love.

May we all remember to

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 31:24 (ESV)

Sincerely,

FlowerLady Lorraine