Walk with a Widow/er Support

09/26/2026

Beyond the Wilderness :
The Next Season of Widowhood

Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

The tears of grief are healing and therapeutic, but they can also be exhausting. Sometimes, my response to some very challenging moments in my life is stoicism.

Not because I’m strong. Although I’ve had to be. Especially in the early days after losing my husband. I had to go into survival mode. I had to become a protector and provider. I had to face the odds, as unpleasant as they were.

Not because I’m afraid to be vulnerable. For a while I was afraid to be vulnerable because I risked losing my resolve to survive. I was afraid that if I gave in to my grief there would be no one left to put the pieces back together.

Not because I’m afraid to cry. For a long time I was afraid that if I surrendered to tears I would slip down that scary deep dark hole of despair and depression. I knew how hard it was to climb out of there. And I was terrified of how I felt when I slipped into the abyss.

Now it’s mostly because I’m exhausted. I don’t have much left to offer as an expression of my grief. Tears flow and they stop quickly. Sadness overwhelms me and I go for a walk. Strength is hardly the hallmark feature of my grief anymore.

In some ways, I’m at a place of quiet surrender. In other ways, I’m at peace with loneliness. I don’t think about the “what might have been”. I think of “what was” but very briefly because it has an annoying way of bringing to the forefront what isn’t anymore.

There were buckets of tears shed along the way - now I’m just plain “all cried out”. And that’s okay. Tears served me well in my healing journey. Now, a peace that passes all understanding keeps me grounded. Some days I wish I could have a good cry.

Tears are therapeutic. Cry.
Tears are exhausting. Rest.
Then, cry again. It’s okay.
As you heal your wounded heart needs tears less than before. Your heart has rebuilt itself with a scar you will carry forever.

Correlates with Chapter 25
“Stages of Wound Healing”
Book: Widows are Warriors
A Walk through the Wilderness of Widowhood by Cynthia Mascarenhas.
Get your copy on Amazon

Widows are Warriors! A Walk through the Wilderness of Widowhood: Daily encouragement from a Widow's Perspective

09/25/2026

So much sadness today. We complain about inane things here in America- even as widows. Our grief is real. Our pain is real. However, when I hear from my widow sisters in Africa, it serves as a reminder of the reason our ministry serves them, too.

Today in two different parts of Africa tragedy has struck our widows. And it’s heartbreaking 💔 In Cameroon 🇨🇲 one of our widows was on the phone with her daughter when she (the daughter) cried out with chest pains and collapsed. Too young to die. A grieving widow now also a grieving mother. 😭

In Kenya, an elderly widow was assaulted in her home, and killed by a young man in her village. The law of the village kicked in, his mother was beaten in retaliation. Their homes were burned down. He surrendered and confessed to assaulting many other elderly widows.

This is life in these countries. Elderly widows are left without a way of providing for themselves and unprotected.

Please pray for these widows. Pray for the brave widows who step up to help and support each other. My heart hurts. I know humanity ought to do better.
It’s a dark night for these communities

09/24/2026

A grieving heart struggles with the concept of prayer. Questions arise deep in grief such as: “Does He even hear me?” Or “Does He even care?”. Grief and all of its emotions are a journey that every widow has to navigate. It’s easy to feel like it is pointless to turn to God in prayer because it won’t change His mind. He will do what He wills, not what I will. There is beauty to be found in all of this. When we pray, it does not cause God to change His mind, but it changes our hearts.

For more info on how to walk through this grief journey follow the link below

https://a.co/d/01hPAcmG

Widows are Warriors! A Walk through the Wilderness of Widowhood: Daily encouragement from a Widow's Perspective

09/23/2026

As friends and family, we are called to enter not only into the joys of life but also into its sorrows. As Romans 12:15 instructs us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (ESV).

Do you notice that we are called to meet people in the emotion they are experiencing? Paul doesn’t say, “Make those who weep rejoice instead,” or “Make sure those who weep feel better.”

Weep with those who weep. Share their sorrow. Share their burden. Share their grief.

Don’t try to fix it. Most of the time, you can’t.

We all want to be there for the happy times, but the tragedies require our presence just as much. Sit with your friends, family, or spouse who are mourning. Allow them to process whatever they need to think or say. Give them that sacred space to come as they are and let it all out.

You might not feel like you’re doing anything, but trust me . . . for them, it’s everything. (Written by Cathe Laurie)

For practical ways to do this, here’s a link to my book

https://a.co/d/0fZgG0NE

09/18/2026

To love at all is to be vulnerable.

Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal…………………

It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. (C. S. Lewis)

For many widows the question of remarriage is met with skepticism, criticism, or encouragement. Some say it’s too soon, others say why don’t you move on with your life and be happy. After all your late husband would want you to be happy. Truth is, it doesn’t matter what your husband wants once he has passed into eternity; YOU have to decide what your future will look like.

Some say widows who had happy marriages are more likely to remarry. Others say such a widow remarrying is a betrayal. After all, if you were married to the love of your life how could you marry someone else? Neither of the above statements is true.

It is just as likely that a widow who was in an abusive marriage would crave the sincere love of a man and desire to remarry. Or, she could be so traumatized from the abuse that she makes herself a promise that she will never give another man that much access to her heart or her personhood.

Opinions from “armchair experts” will be plentiful. Ignore them. There isn’t a right or wrong answer to your decision. You may find happiness in remarrying or you may slowly adapt to a single life and embrace it notwithstanding the loneliness of losing your husband.

Or, you may find that remarrying was the wrong decision for you but you will do the work of marriage again. It will undoubtedly look very different from your first marriage.

Nowhere in this conversation will you find me endorsing a woman’s decision to stay in a marriage that is emotionally, physically, and/or sexually abusive. Not in your first marriage and not if you choose to remarry after widowhood.

Love, whether the first time or second, is a decision to be vulnerable. Vulnerability carries with it a certain element of risk. I pray that should this be the choice you make it would bring you great reward. ❤️❤️❤️

09/17/2026

Lamentations 3:22-23
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

09/15/2026

When you’re feeling blue…
There are many ways to brighten your mood, whether you’re battling depression, anxiety, or even just the Sunday blues.

What are your favorite ways to reset and lift your spirit? Comment below ⬇️⬇️

🚴‍♀️Exercise – it sounds counterintuitive, but even mild exercise can improve blood flow, send more oxygen to the brain, and increase serotonin and dopamine, which will help with your overall mood and sense of wellbeing

🌳 Nature – go for a walk, listen to music or just listen to the sounds of nature, take in the beauty of the creation, and enjoy some fresh air. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." Ps 19:1

🙏 Pray – take your thoughts and fears to the Lord, lay them at His feet, and rest in His presence with full confidence that He will provide, lead, and comfort. For His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matt 11:30).

☕️ Friends – talk to someone who knows you well, someone who can listen well and offer sound biblical encouragement. Talk on the phone or meet for coffee. The change of scenery and pleasant company can serve as a welcome respite.

🛁 Take a bath – relax in a bath with some Epsom salt (which helps with stress relief, muscle pain, and inflammation)…set the mood, put on some music, light a candle, and enjoy.

🎨 Create – draw, write, paint, build, craft, sew, knit – whatever your heart desires! Making something 1) It requires you to focus on the task at hand, redirecting your thoughts to something enjoyable and productive, and 2) gives you a sense of accomplishment.

09/14/2026

As a track and field athlete, I learned a few things about “shedding encumbrances” and “avoiding pitfalls”.

The field we ran on was dirt – small pebbles and grit which could easily cause us to slip and lose our footing. To avoid that pitfall, we wore track shoes – shoes with spikes which pierced the ground as you planted your foot and the weight of your body onto it. These spikes were dangerous if you were careless; they could cause you and other runners grievous bodily injury. However, with appropriate caution they allowed you to run the race without fear of the “pitfalls” of the field you were running.

The clothing you wore was light and clung to your body to allow sweat to wick and minimize the air-flow between your skin and your clothes. This air-flow would only serve to slow your forward momentum.

The race is about winning, it is about finishing, and it is about excellence. It is about recognizing the enemy and putting on the appropriate armor. It is about recognizing the things in your own life that will deter you. It is about avoiding the pitfalls of sinful choices which will destroy your integrity as you run this race.

It is about shedding excess baggage and running the race without things that weigh you down. The most common of these “encumbrances” for a Christian are materialism, sexual immorality, and excessive ambition. The “allure” of these sins is Satan’s favorite “lure”!!

We run with perseverance, setting our eyes on Jesus. Satan will attack you – he will use his minions to try to destroy your integrity and dwindle your faith in Christ and in the calling He has placed on your life. This is when you put on your “Shield of Faith”. Satan is a liar!
Keep your eyes on Jesus – the author and perfecter of your faith.

Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Do not doubt His provision.

Do not focus on the race before you but rather on the One who fuels you as you run the race.

Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.

Keep pressing on! He has called you to run the race.
He will run with you.
He will ignite the fire within you.
He will be the wind beneath your wings!

09/10/2026

Do you know your household’s financial situation?

This is an important question to ponder. No one is ever fully prepared for widowhood as we pray this is something we never have to face. Widowhood is a life-changing experience that can bring you to your knees, no matter whether your loss was sudden or anticipated. Each day brings with it its own challenges. Each day you will find yourself questioning yourself and God. Each day you will have to find the strength to move beyond your fears and tears. Each day you will have to step into the unknown.

Many women around the world are faced with this season of life and being as prepared as possible is important.

Take time to ponder this question today. Maybe sit down with your spouse and discuss this so that you too may be prepared if the season of widowhood becomes reality in your own life.

09/06/2026

I always used to say to my husband on difficult days, “it’s a good thing I love you because right now I don’t like you”

Liking someone will change by the moment but loving someone sustains you through every argument, every annoying habit, and every disappointment.

Yes - people who love each other deeply can also disappoint each other deeply. You just accept disappointment as yet another thing that love conquers. 🥂 💍
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things