Synopses & Reviews
“Why would God allow my husband to die? How am I going to make it without him?” is the heart-cry of women who are facing the reality of widowhood. Often overwhelmed with grief and uncertainty, many struggle to manage their emotions and deal with the feeling that they have been abandoned—not only by their husband, but also by God. Hope for an Aching Heart offers hope and encouragement to help widows handle the day-to-day challenges of life after such loss. Sharing from her own widow’s heart, author Margaret Nyman weaves personal stories, Scripture, and prayers into 60 days of inspirational thoughts. Gain insights to help you develop a greater dependency on God and His grace to supply all of your needs. This comforting devotional presents a fresh perspective on the depth of God’s love and tender care, and His promise to always be with you. “I have read dozens of books on handling grief, and even wrote a couple myself, but I assure you that this book is at the top of my list. If you need comfort for yourself or help in comforting others, Hope for an Aching Heart is a treasury you will not exhaust.”—Warren W. WiersbeAuthor and former pastor, Moody Church, Chicago “Margaret Nyman is gut-wrenchingly real about the struggles she endured in the wake of her husband’s death . . . These short, poignant devotionals will minister grace to widows in every stage of the grieving process.” —Nancy Leigh DeMossAuthor and Revive Our Hearts radio host Margaret Nyman, a wife of forty years and the mother of seven children, found herself a widow after her husband’s sudden illness and death in 2009. Blogging about her feelings created an avenue that helped her work through the heart-wrenching pain. Hundreds of readers were attracted to her daily blog, many of them reeling from the loss of their mates. Out of her desire to respond to their cries and help other widows she penned this inspiring devotional. 978-1-57293-568-6[product code]RELIGION/Christian Life/Death, Grief, Bereavement
Review
"I have read dozens of books on handling grief, and even wrote a couple myself, but I assure you that this book is at the top of my list. If you need comfort for yourself or help in comforting others, Hope for an Aching Heart is a treasury you will not exhaust."
Review
"Margaret Nyman is gut-wrenchingly real about the struggles she endured in the wake of her husband's death.... These short, poignant devotionals will minister grace to widows in every stage of the grieving process."
Review
"You hold in our hands a true story of love, suffering, and death; the journey of a committed couple who heard the dreaded words, 'You have terminal cancer.' In this vivid account, we follow the steps of a wife and mother as she struggles with grief, loss, and unanswered questions. Those of us who know Margaret, along with the thousands who followed her daily blog, can assure you that in the midst of tears you will be encouraged with words of hope, comfort, and the assurance that we shall all meet again in the presence of Jesus. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and then share it with a friend! Here, through the lens of a Christian woman, we learn that cancer does not have the last word!"
Review
"Margaret's book is a must-read for every widow. I wish I had Hope for an Aching Heart when I began my journey alone. It's personal, like she's walking beside us through our ordinary, daily events. It's important because we desperately need wisdom and comfort, and her extraordinary insights deliver both."
Synopsis
Women who are facing the reality of widowhood are often connected by a common thread of grief and uncertainty. Hope for an Aching Heart offers encouragement to help readers handle the challenges of each day with Gods grace. Sharing from a widows heart, the author weaves personal stories, Scripture, and prayers into 60 days of inspirational thoughts that motivate readers to draw closer to God. This heartfelt and engaging devotional helps to broaden womens understanding of the depth of Gods love, His tender care, and His promise to always be with them.
About the Author
Margaret Nyman, a wife of nearly forty years and the mother of seven children, was widowed after her husband’s sudden illness and death in 2009. Blogging about her feelings helped her work through the heart-wrenching pain and encouraged thousands of readers, many of them reeling from the loss of their own mates. Hope for an Aching Heart and Prayers for a Widow’s Heart were written out of her desire to help other widows and respond to their cries.
Table of Contents
Introduction 11Part 1: I Cant Believe Im a Widow1. Why Ask Why? 152. The Widow Word 173. Planning a Funeral 194. Hes Unavailable 215. Two Good Gifts 236. Dressed for the Occasion 257. Trying to Remember 278. Rearranging the Past 299. Without Insurance 3110. Chiseled in Granite 33Part 2: Letting Myself Cry11. Crying a River 3712. Evicting Fear 3913. Revisiting the Grave 4114. Dreaming of Love 4315. Unexpected Tears 4516. Leave Me Alone 4717. Cracked 4918. Energizing Sleep 5119. Vinegar in a Wound 53
20. Wrenching Impossibility 55Part 3: Seeking a New Balance21. Can I Help You? 5922. Grief Is Tricky 6123. Will God Provide? 6324. Creatures of Habit 6525. A Fix for Whats Broken 6726. Invisible Influence 6927. Gummed Up 7128. Initiating Traditions 7329. Diagnosis: Hopeless 7530. A New Me 77Part 4: Learning to Live without Him31. Feeling Numb 8132. Missing Kissing 8333. Discombobulated 8534. Counting the Days 8735. Language Barrier 8936. Afraid of the Dark 9137. Clothes Dont Make the Man 9338. Fantasyland 9539. I Just Forgot 9740. A Crystallized Future 99Part 5: Finding New Peace41. Its Up to You 10342. A Blizzard of Emotions 10543. An Empty Calendar 10744. Family Changes 109
45. Hidden Biographies 11146. Best Friends Forever 11347. God Wants a Yes 11548. Shaky Security 11749. Comforted Inside and Out 11950. Widow Blessings 121Part 6: Moving Forward51. Called to Widowhood 12552. Shared Widowhood 12753. Monitoring Grief 12954. Staying in the Race 13155. Worth the Wait 13356. Travel Turmoil 13557. Good Times 13758. The Bad in Good-bye 13959. Proper Priorities 14160. A Lonely One 143Conclusion 145
Acknowledgments 147