Have you hugged a widow today?
If you are a widow, what is one thing you miss about your husband? Or maybe there is more than one thing.
For me, it was my husband’s hugs. Those warm embraces that let me know I am loved. What about you?
I Timothy 5:3 ff, Paul writes these words:
“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives… Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
“No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”
So, what is this list of widows? As you see from the above verses, devoting herself to the Lord’s work is her new fulltime job. Her faithfulness brings encouragement to many.
But what if a widow is bedridden and thinks she is unable to do the Lord’s work? Well, the Lord’s work also includes prayer. Lying in bed gives you ample time to pray for the needs of our church, our nation, and our world. And if you can’t find the words, Romans 8 promises that the Spirit will intercede for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
So ladies, if you are a widow, don’t be afraid to ask for a hug. And if you aren’t a widow, make sure you hug a widow today.
Jill Munoz, Vice President Christian Growth, LWMLC Inc.
Serving in His Strength” is a blog
published by the Member Development Committee of
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada, Inc.
Lutheranwomen.ca
2026