Christmas came early this year to the more than 300 widows our Alliance district widows’ group serves in our city. Throughout the year, we meet with these women to pray and share encouragement from God’s Word.
We also offer practical assistance—providing medical care as needed, helping with children’s school fees, and teaching practical life skills through a variety of projects.
A Favorite Event
But we especially love our Christmas event for these women, since it brings some light and cheer into their world. Their loss is more acute during this time of year as they face their first holiday without their husbands, or perhaps it’s another of many.
We have found that the opportunity for our widows to be with others—to sing, pray, and eat together—brings light into their world that is overshadowed by death. And, of course, a gift of new clothes, soap, and a bag of macaroni for Christmas dinner just adds to the fun!
Death’s Long Shadow
Jesus’ ministry was described as shining light upon those who live under the shadow of death (see Matthew 4:16). Widows living in “shame and blame” cultures experience this at their core. One of our women described it this way:
When my husband died, everyone was there. But afterwards, they began ignoring me, even blaming me for his death. A great sadness came over me as I realized I had not only lost my husband but also my place in the family and any possible help from relatives. And I was so sad to see how my children suffered because the family treated us so differently after his death.
Shining the Light of Christmas
As believers, we know that the light Jesus brought to those “living in the land of the shadow of death” was the wonderful news of salvation and the coming of the Kingdom of heaven.
We also know that the baby whose birth we celebrate at Christmas is the Light revealed to show our Heavenly Father’s love for all nations. Our widows need these reminders: The Good Shepherd is beside them as they walk through the valley of the shadow of death (see Psalm 23:4).
We thank the Lord that we’re able to bring encouragement to these dear women dealing with so much grief and loss—and we love celebrating Christmas through shining the light of Christ’s love among them.
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27a, NLT).
by Esther, an international Alliance worker serving in West Africa