I like the words “Hope for Widows” because it means that life doesn’t end with the death of our spouse.  There is hope for a new future, hope for laughter, hope for joy, hope for peace … Hope for widows means we can move forward.  Never to give up, not only because our lives matter, but because there is hope of happiness.  I appreciate all the widows in “The Sisterhood of Widows – Private Group for Widows” because they have been a big part of my journey.  They teach me that there is hope for us widows and in the beginning I needed to believe in that. We grow strong because of hope.  It provides the light at the end of the long tunnel of grief.  The thought that we will all undergo some sort of magical transformation can create unrealistic expectations.  These expectations can let us down as not everyone finds the peace and tranquility they previously had.  But I love the idea that there is at least to me, hope.  That there may be transformative changes happening, quietly beneath the surface.  Changes that we widows may not be aware of as we grieve, but nonetheless are still there waiting to come forth. It comforts me to know that hope is a host to these sort of changes and that unbeknownst to a widow her broken heart is slowly starting to heal. I know it’s hard to think of blessings when you are grieving, but recognizing the many things you still have to be thankful for is part of your healing.  Make a list and don’t leave anything out. Whenever you are having an especially hard day, pull out the list and remind yourself of your blessings. When widows are faced with problems that they now need to solve on their own, it helps to ask lots of questions.  This should provide you with enough information (pros and cons) to solve your problem or at the very least know who to call for help. It helps to set small goals so that you get a sense of accomplishment at least once a week.  This will build up your hope and strengthen your belief in yourself. Embrace “hope for widows” as a way of living and looking at the new future and the possibilities that are out there.  Consider the thoughts that occupy you every day.  Are you stuck in the past or worried about the future?  By closing both doors, you can focus just on today, have hope just for today and let the rest take care of itself. These moments of quiet hope (appreciation of the present day) ensures that the everyday blessings don’t slip by us unnoticed. Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows Hope for Widows, the sisterhood of widows, widow support, grieving, how to grieve, grief, life of a widow, #thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport, #widowsupport, #howtogrieve, #widowshelpingwidows