The Southern Baptist Convention designates the second Sunday of November to pay tribute to widows and orphans in the church and community, but those tributes can be 365 days a year.
One of God’s commands is to care for widows and orphans. In biblical times a woman without someone to care for her could become destitute. Women depended on a husband to provide food, shelter and other necessities, while her responsibilities were to care for the home and children.
The local congregation has many opportunities to be “close to the brokenhearted.” And while it may be difficult for an individual to carry the weight of providing for a widow or a child in foster care, a group can share the burden.
Support
“We need to instill in our children to respect all women,” said Randy Kellough, bivocational pastor of Woodland Baptist Church in Brownsville, Tennessee. “For example, on Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May, most churches recognize mothers. Our younger generation must be taught to value women, regardless of age or married status.”
Kellough noted two programs in West Tennessee that are having an impact on children.
One is “Friend-to-Friend,” a mentoring program in local schools where a father helps a child without one in the home. The man may attend a sporting event or school program, developing a bond in which he is an encourager in both academics and life.
Another is “Lunch Buddies,” where an individual sets a weekly lunch date and has lunch in the school cafeteria. There they can talk about concerns, problems or accomplishments the child may be experiencing. It’s a child-friendly way to open deeper conversations.
“Imagine how a child feels, especially on ‘Grandparents Day,’” Kellough said, “and you’re the only child in your elementary classroom who doesn’t have a grandparent to show up?”
Church members can step in and change the life of a child, and when the child becomes an adult they will remember the kindness — and possibly repay it by being a support system for another child.
Take care
While some widows may need more help than others, God commands believers to care for them.
“On a recent Sunday I overheard a conversation from a widow talking to a group gathered after the morning service,” Kellough recalled. “She related that she was having problems finding someone to cut her grass. Immediately, a deacon spoke up and said, ‘I’ll be at your house in the morning. I’ll get that grass mowed.’”
After the death of a spouse many decisions must be made. Some widows are more equipped than others to handle business matters, but assistance that can be helpful includes:
- Advice on filing tax information.
- Recommending a reliable person to repair or maintain a house.
- Purchasing a tombstone.
- Prepare and deliver meals for a few days.
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