Prayer Book for Widows
Prayer Book for Widows
Kay M. Cozad
Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division
Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.
Huntington, Indiana 46750
Nihil Obstat: Rev. Michael Heintz
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: + John M. D’Arcy
Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend
December 29, 2003
The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free from doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
The Scripture citations used in this work are taken from the Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV), copyright © 1965 and 1966 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
Every reasonable effort has been made to determine copyright holders of excerpted materials and to secure permissions as needed. If any copyrighted materials have been inadvertently used in this work without proper credit being given in one form or another, please notify Our Sunday Visitor in writing so that future printings of this work may be corrected accordingly.
Copyright © 2019, 2004 by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.
23 22 21 20 19 1 2 3 4 5 6
All rights reserved. With the exception of short excerpts for critical reviews, no part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without permission in writing from the publisher. For more information, visit: www.osv.com/permissions.
Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division
Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.
200 Noll Plaza
Huntington, IN 46750
ISBN: 978-1-68192-489-2 (Inventory No. T2379)
eISBN: 978-1-68192-602-5
LCCN: 2003113162
Cover design by Monica Haneline
Cover and interior art by Getty Images, Inc., copyright © 2002, all rights reserved
Interior design by Sherri L. Hoffman
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In loving memory of my husband, Trent. And for my earth angels, Sara and Emily, and all my Joy and Hope friends.
Contents
Guide My Choice
Give Me Strength
Comfort My View
Strength for the Funeral
Peaceful Sleep
My Physical Well-being
Patience, Patience, Patience
Lift Me From Depression
Your Strength in My Pain
My Children
Changing Life, Unchanging Love
Who Am I?
Your Presence in My Loneliness
Letting Go
My Faith, My Church
Guide Me in Finance
Moving
Share My Table
Travel With Me, Lord
Back to Work
Getting on With Grief
His Birthday Prayer
My Birthday Prayer
Our Wedding Anniversary
The First Anniversary
Milestones
Thanksgiving
The Christmas Prayer
Easter
How Can I Help?
Strength as I Grieve, Too
Widow to Widow
Chapter 7: From Mourning to Joy
For Family and Friends
My Husband’s Life
Your Saving Grace
The Gift of Tears
Reconciliation
Introduction
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
— PSALM 34:18
I believe that prayer is a necessity of life for people of faith. It is a gift from God for our own sake. He gives us this avenue to express our gratitude,