Dear God,
Sorrow and suffering are real, and that reality is felt deeply by the widow during the months of November-January. The emotions the widow feels during these holiday months are as numerous as the changing colors of the leaves. The sights, sounds, smells, taste, and touch (or lack of) trigger fresh pain and hidden grief, bombarding her almost relentlessly.
To make it through this cold season, the widow needs endurance and the perspective of hope found in Christ. Give her the reminder that spring will indeed come, and life will return. May she have the courage to feel and express the pain, cry out to You and her community, and trust You with all her might.
Lord, please pour out Your compassion through others. Help her community to comfort her as they have been comforted before. May the Holy Spirit prompt kindness, gentleness, and long-suffering support through her family and friends. Give them wisdom, understanding, and creative practical ideas for walking alongside those who will experience many hard emotions during the holiday season. And, ultimately, remind this hurting one that You, a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief, are there.
In Jesus’ name, amen
