What’s in your box? This question needs to be addressed by all widows and had me re-evaluating my widow journey. I know you are asking “what box” is she talking about?
As I sat in church listening to my Pastor talk about this “box” and what he had placed in it and how it was affecting his struggle. I knew this analogy needed to be shared with the widows in the world.
Most widows will at some point on their widowhood journey have a “box”. It was clear to me what I had placed in my “box” and want to bring attention to possibly the “box” you are filling up without even knowing it.
When we face a struggle, we try to find remedies to help with the struggle and fix the struggle, but mostly mask what we are facing.
We cause a distraction!
If I do this, I won’t cry. If I do that it will ease the pain. If go here no one will know my story and the tragedy I face. If I have this, it will bring me the comfort I need.
Here we are placing “things” in our box, truly believing they will restore the broken heart we are living with. Let me share with you the few things that I had placed in my “box”.
– Shopping!
– Overspending!
– Scrolling social media!
– Mindless Tv watching!
– Business, running, running, running!
There are so many “things” we can be placing in our “box”. Some are more destructive than others.
Alcohol!
Overeating!
Drugs!
Binge Watching Tv!
Shopping!
Scrolling social media!
Overspending!
Unhealthy relationships
Information overload!
And these are just a few of a long list of “things”.
With the loss of our husband, we can become so easily distracted. Distracted with the things that will not get us to peace, calm, and healing. We believe, or want them to be the one thing that will take the heartache away.
As I went through the motions of widowhood trying out one or many of the “things”, I just kept adding to my “box”. Never finding true peace with any of them. Just adding to the numbness, I was already feeling.
What needs to happen is dumping out our “box”. The heartache we are facing, the struggle that is tearing us apart needs to be dumped out… at the feet of Jesus!
Stop paralyzing yourself with all the yuck you think will rescue you. The only thing that has rescued me is the love of the Lord.
All the other “things” did not bring me healing. They brought me debt! Wasted time! Along with extreme tiredness!
You may be on the beginning side of your widow journey and so mad at God that you can’t even think about going to His feet. That is okay, He waits patiently for you. In time I would encourage you to take all the burdens you are carrying and lay them at His feet.
If you are months, years, or decades on your widow journey I am asking you to look and see if possibly your “box” still has some things in it. If it does, my encouragement to you as well is to lay it at the feet of Jesus.
I want to share a statement my Pastor said on that Sunday.
In our despair, He will be there with us. He is with us through our joy and our SORROW. Through the days of anger and wanting nothing He will be there.
Psalms 62:8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Refuge: shelter or protection from danger, and trouble. A place to hide, have privacy
If emptying your “box” seems too difficult then just sit with the Lord. No need to say a word, no need to hear a word. Sit there in silence, which may be very scary, but sit there anyways. Sit there with our protector.
Grief can cause us to walk out some very difficult roads that may create more strain on us and take from our already broken heart. Allow the Lord to work in you, helping you to find the new normal you are traveling.
Love and Blessings
Looking for a way you can make a difference and give back this holiday season? Embrace the spirit of giving by participating in Hope for Widows Foundation’s third annual ‘Bring Hope’ virtual program that directly assists a widow’s family who cannot provide gifts for their children or other necessities during this holiday season. Some widows who are struggling to make ends meet during this time simply do not have the luxury of purchasing gifts when their finances require them to choose between keeping the lights on and food on the table or purchasing presents. Add in the factors of solo parenting, grief, and the emotional and physical toll it takes. If you would like more details on how you can support a widow and her family, please EMAIL US directly for questions at info@hopeforwidows.org or to sponsor, go here for details and to fill out the application: https://linktr.ee/hopeforwidows
About Jacki Corta
Jacki Corta is a motivational speaker, intuitive life, and grief coach along with the founder and CEO of Strength > Struggle™. The brand she discovered after traveling the journey of cancer with her husband. She started the Strength>Struggle™ crusade, helping others find their inner strength during some of the scariest times. In 2014, her husband, Douglas was diagnosed with Glioblastoma brain cancer and 20 months later passed away, giving Jacki a new title… Widow. It is Jacki’s mission to share her story with the world and how it can positively impact others in whatever they may face. It is a story of unexplainable strength in life’s most challenging storms, overcoming adversity and finding hope while traveling the difficult path her life took.
It is her ability to communicate and willingness to be vulnerable that connects with her clients and audiences. Jacki believes her purpose here is to impact as many souls as possible showing them that through even the darkest days there is a glimpse of light to grab onto for them to find their strength. Jacki will empower, challenge, and give you a new outlook on your own story.
She is a mother of three adult girls and a Mimi to two beautiful granddaughters. You can follow more of her story and inspiration on Instagram @jackicorta or listen to her podcast Jacki Has a Voice on Spotify.