The Joyful Widower

Ruminations on grief, joy, love, and the cross


Blog

  • “Time heals all wounds!” Oh, please…

    Dear Griever, Perhaps someone (or many someones) has said to you “time heals all wounds.” Perhaps you’ve said it to someone else (in which case, forgive me for what I’m about to say). Ahem. BS. Time does not heal all wounds. Rather, time gives you the opportunity to work out the healing (or not). The… Continue reading

  • The Alchemy of Grief

    The Elixir Teach me, my God and King,          In all things Thee to see, And what I do in anything          To do it as for Thee.           Not rudely, as a beast,          To run into an action; But still to make Thee prepossest,          And give it his perfection.           A man that looks on glass,          On it may stay his eye; Or if he pleaseth,… Continue reading

  • Ready or Not…

    After one of the premarital counseling sessions Melinda and I had with Fr. Stephen Freeman, he commented as we were leaving that, barring the unusual circumstances where a husband and wife die together, one spouse will survive the other. He certainly didn’t need to repeat it later when Tracy and I met with him for… Continue reading

  • Widowed Parent Relief Project

    A few months ago brother widower Mathew Bradley, host of the Solo Dad Podcast and the Solo Dad Facebook page, posted a message about an outreach organization in the Knoxville area called the Widowed Parent Relief Project. No sooner did I find their web page than I was messaging the founder for more information and… Continue reading

  • Same song, second verse…

    I’ve been absent from writing for quite a while now. It’s been difficult to do a lot of things that aren’t strictly necessary. I’ve kept my kids and myself fed, dressed, and housed, and I’ve gotten us to appointments and obligations, mostly on time. I’ve gotten myself to work. Apart from that, not much else.… Continue reading

  • Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight…

    I hadn’t planned to write during Holy Week. Between work during the day and church services every evening this week, as well as chauffeur duties for the kids, plus planning for food for the feast (Tracy’s savory cheesecake!), I had figured I would write something after Pascha, either during Bright Week or the week after.… Continue reading