final thought

From the African Child Trust website I’ve borrowed the poem below, written by a Zambian widow in 2002. It speaks poignantly to the despair felt by so many widows until an empowering agency finds them and offers them hope. This reads like a modern-day Psalm of Lament.

Is it a sin to be a widow?

Oh Lord, what have I done to deserve this?

What unforgivable sin have I committed?

Death you are cruel and heartless.

You have taken away my husband, the father of my children.

Now I’m called a widow and my children are called orphans, the names we didn’t have before.

Here I am without a husband and helper who died just because death is a must.

I’m so lonely and depressed while other women are filled with laughter.

With all these children to look after, I’m desperate.

I have to send them to school.

I have to feed and clothe them.

But I have no money and everything I was left with was grabbed by my husband’s relatives.

Now I am hopeless and I have become a destitute.

Is it a sin to be a widow?

My friends have deserted me.

My relatives have forsaken me.

I’m avoided like one with AIDS or leprosy.

Oh Lord, why Lord, why?

Have mercy on me Lord.

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WIDOWS world

A space where I keep you up to date with news and ponderings about widows in the developing world

ON INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS DAY, THERE'S A NEW WAVE RISING!

A wave of hope is building along the western coast of India. Hope that a new day may be dawning for widows.

In an ancient culture where for centuries women have suffered all sorts of indignities and deprivations when their husband dies, now there are village councils that have recently passed resolutions banning the customary treatment of widows.

On Nov. 11 remember the war widows

Today we remember… the many who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice. We wear the poppy. We stand in silence as we honour their memory.

But what of the widows? Who remembers them?

Today I'm borrowing a blog from Ambreen Zaidi, an army wife, whose recently published book tells the stories of many war widows. She says it better than I ever could.

give the ultimate feel-good gifts this christmas

You do it every year... buy presents for the Him in your life or the Her, for the kids, the grand kids, for Great Aunt Maud and Uncle Chester, for the schoolteachers, for your son's latest girlfriend...

And every year it's a job you're glad to get finished. Whew! That's done for another year!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF RURAL WOMEN

A widow woke up this morning in rural Africa (or India or Southeast Asia or Latin America or Europe... ). She didn't know that today (Oct. 15) is International Day of Rural Women.

Nor did she know that tomorrow (Oct. 16) is World Food Day. Or that October 17th is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

And if she knew?