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“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21 (ESV)

Whether you call it Widow Brain, Widow Fog, or Shock, most of us have experienced it repeatedly. In the first days, weeks, even months, we over so overwhelmed with grief, it is hard to process information. We struggle to remember or retain even some of the most basic things. But eventually, the feelings of “Widow Brain” will subside. We will begin to function once again and our ability to both remember and retain information will be restored. A critical part of healing begins when we are able to recall our precious memories of our husbands – instead of just the pain of their death. I found it incredibly helpful to intentionally set up opportunities to share my memories of my husband with old friends and new ones. I affectionately refer to them as Treasured Moments.

Share your treasured moments.

They happen in an instant and they are forever imprinted in your brain – treasured moments.

One of my treasured moments occurred on my husband’s last Father’s Day on this side of heaven. We had no way of knowing that just three months later he would be killed by a drunk driver. We had no way of knowing what a precious gift God was giving us on that Father’s Day.

It was just a simple little thing that turned into a treasured moment. Our day started out with a trip down to Galveston. Our family loves being by the beach – and of course – eating out. We arranged to give him his gifts as we ate at a restaurant overlooking the water. My daughters decided to have some fun, and they put my husband’s gift in a gift bag intended for a little boy. It had a pirate on it, and it came with an eye patch and a sword. I guess we never outgrow being more drawn to the packaging than the gift. No one remembers the gift that year, but we all remember how much he loved the bag. He proudly wore his eye patch and played with his sword in the restaurant. We were all tickled with how much fun he had just with the bag. It became a treasured moment, imprinted on our brains forever.

Appreciate new treasured moments.

It can feel like we will never have any more treasured moments, but even in the midst of my grief, I have found God continues giving us treasured moments.

• Like the moment when one of my Bible study friends talked about how much her faith had grown by watching God’s faithfulness in caring for me through this season in my life.
• And also the moments that my daughters have encouraged me with God’s truth when I was feeling overwhelmed.
• Or like the moment I learned my son-in-law had read all of the devotionals I had written in our first published devotional book, the very first night they got the book.
• And the incredible moment when one of our readers at the first AWM widow’s retreat shared how God used one of the devotionals I had written to comfort her.

As I look over my treasured moments in this season of my life, I am so very grateful. These treasured moments are a confirmation of God’s love and faithfulness.

God is our greatest treasure.

I realize how truly precious these moments are because they clearly are gifts from God, Who never ceases to demonstrate His unending, abundant love. He is so faithful yesterday, today and tomorrow. I have come to a new realization of how much I treasure Him. He is our greatest treasure of all!

And as I reflect on my treasured moments, I am reminded of Matthew 6:21 (ESV).

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Ask God to remind you today of your sweet treasured moments. And as those memories come to mind, reflect on not just the gift but also the Giver.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the generous love You so lavishly give us. You are our creator, our comforter, our redeemer, and our strength. There is no one like You. Thank You for all of the treasured moments with our husbands we have, that are forever imprinted on our hearts. And we praise You for the treasured moments You are giving us now, even in the midst of the greatest pain we have ever known. Lord, You are our greatest treasure and we are grateful our hearts are with You! Amen.