A Widow's Journey: Reflections on Walking Alone

by Gayle Roper

Have you recently lost your husband? Are there days when you feel so terribly alone--and that no one else could possibly understand?

Author Gayle Roper understands. As a recent widow herself, Gayle writes:

So who am I now that there's only one place at the table...one pillow with a head dent, one damp towel after a shower. There's only one toothbrush in the holder. The seat is never left up anymore.

I can still write Mrs. in front of my name, but I'm no longer in a marriage relationship. You need two people for a marriage and there's only me.

Is there only you? Then join Gayle as she draws on her emotions during the loss of her beloved husband, Chuck, and offers you a compassionate devotional to encourage you through your darkest days. Gayle knows a widow's pain is deep. But she also knows God's love is deeper still. And it's in His love you'll find your deepest comfort.

Genres: Grief, Self Help, Nonfiction, Christian, Adult

144 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

Gayle Roper rejoices every day that she gets to be a writer because she's in love with story. Even on the days that words rebel and have to be coerced onto the paper, there is nothing else she'd rather do. When readers like her work, it's like God says, "See? I knew what you were wired to do." When her books win awards like the Carol Award (Caught Redhanded) or the RITA Award (Autumn Dreams), the Holt Medallion (The Decision, Caught in a Bind, Autumn Dreams) or the Reviewer's Choice (The Decision), it's icing on the cake. And she gets to teach others how to write at conferences too. She spends a lot of time smiling. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America and is the best-selling author of Hide & Seek and more than forty other books.

Reviews

[Sandra Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I recently became a widow. It’s been 2 months and 12 days to be exact. It’s very raw for me. I cried. I laughed. I got angry and in some things I totally disagree with the author. But for the main part she described how I feel to a T.

Oh, how I miss my Babe. It hurts so much but in the midst of my pain I’ve chosen to trust God and move forward. Some days I’m skipping and some days feel like I’m pushing through a brick wall. The part that ministered to me was the illustration she used about the life line. Yes, that’s me always looking back and yearning for what it was. Knowing my hubby so well (we were married 34 years) he is at the end of the line cheering me on and encouraging me to move forward. After all that is where He is at. In the presence of King Jesus waiting for me, which will be in God’s perfect timing. I’m still here in the land of the living and God has a purpose for me here. Life will never be the same but I will survive. The memories will remind me of our best years.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught my eye in Lifeway one day so I bought it and started reading it. In a few days I will have been a widow for only 6 months. This book was very helpful, sometimes it made me get all choked up and/or teary eyed but it was so very helpful to me in my grief and my walk alone without my dear husband. I found that many times what Gayle said about her feelings were almost exactly how I was feeling too! It was good to know that other widows felt the same way too. I also appreciated all of the appropriate bible verses after her own thoughts. These really added to the book's success.

I am going to keep this book to read again in the very near future because it was so helpful to me as I go through this time of grief.

[jimmie aldredge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing others feel your pain helps!!

I am a widow, 73 years old. This book helped me in so many ways. I felt that someone really understood my pain. The scriptures were so meaningful. This is the beginning of my journey. My husband passed away 2 months ago. He was my high school sweetheart and a wonderful man. We had 2 children and 4 grandchildren. 53 years of marriage, I am lost without him. Thank you for sharing your feelings. God bless you.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an e-book in just a few hours so that I could better tell whether to gift it to a new widow. I am familiar with the emotions, questions, and situations that she talks about because I have gone through the same things.
Mrs. Roper lost her husband of 47 years after 3 years of his fighting cancer. She writes this short book shortly after; in fact, it had been only 3 years since his death.
Mrs. Roper uses plenty of Scripture to complement each bit of her reminiscing. When I was in the early stages of grief, I'm not sure that I would have been able to get through this book because of feeling lost, angry, and not understanding why my loss had happened; the author mentions that it can be hard in the beginning of grief to be able to cope with the sentiments the book gives. But, it can be a good reference to go to a bit at a time as one is able. It is also useful as a devotional to remember that God is really with us.

[Anne Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book on the 3-month anniversary of my husband's death after a friend recommended it to me. Oh my, the author sometimes seemed to be echoing my exact thoughts and I found I could only read 10-12 pages at a time and then I needed to digest what she wrote. Before my husband died I had no idea of the emotions I would experience - there's no way to prepare yourself for becoming a widow or a way to explain to others who haven't reached this status. I felt like Roper captured my thoughts and emotions and I know I will re-read this book in the future and will gift it to others who may need it. A powerful book for any who have lost a spouse and also believe in God as Roper added appropriate scriptures throughout the book that I found so comforting.

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important read for widows, but also for those who want to understand the intensely personal struggle being experienced by the widows they love. I will never fully understand as I'm not a widow, but I can try, and this book helped. I wish it would've been a little more "how-to" but I recognize that's not what it's meant to be. These were originally the author's blog posts during the years following her husband's death, so that makes sense. They are easily digestible and interspersed with meaningful Scripture and quotes.

[Cindy Batdorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book helps you realize you are not going crazy. Life has changed. The one you love is not coming back but, there are groups out there to help you. Hopefully, you have friends and family that will also give you support.

I am almost one year from the day my husband died. I am doing better but I still have a long way to go in the organization department. Some days I can work for hours, other days I curl up in the chair and sleep. But I know I am better and I know God is with me and that makes all the difference.

[John Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for Women Only

NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY

It may sound strange, but men encounter similar feelings, with a different context and different details. And I write as a man, a happily married one, a martial artist and a writer. The details here are skillfully presented and developed without pandering or self -pity. In the right group of one or more who has experienced great loss this could be a healing instrument. (Author of THE BLOOD OF THREE WORLDS. See Amazon or Johnknapp2.com)

[Floy Creveling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the first weeks after my husband's death. I found it extremely helpful. The one year anniversary of his passing is approaching and I picked up the book again. I find it even more helpful this time. Gayle Roper's candor in sharing her experiences as a wife and now a widow, speaks volumes in what it is like losing a spouse. I am very grateful that she wrote this book and that I bought it.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories and scripture. The anecdotes are personal and related to other widows. Scripture points to hope and gospel truth.
I overall really liked this short read. A couple times I just nodded along, because there is a difference between a women who is widowed in her and her husband's retirement, and myself, who was widowed when she was 40 with a small child to also raise and process grief with...

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short reflections on the changes, experiences, and emotions of the author after her husband died. She shares honestly and realistically in the short passages in this book. As a widow, I related to her heartfelt reactions to the changes in her life, and all the emotions. I like it so much, I bought one for my sister, who is a recent widow. This is an excellent resource for those walking this path of sorrow.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Difficult subject but a realistically painful and hopeful resource

I'm not yet widowed, but my husband is in the final stages of Alzheimer's, and I'm already walking a lonely road as his caregiver. Gayle's journey is helping me cope as I prepare for the inevitable. As a fellow writer, I know Gayle and have always admired her, even more so now.

[Terry Ingroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank goodness for this book!

I purchased this book almost 2 years ago, shortly after the passing of my husband. This book has been a source of comfort from the very beginning and I still refer to it often on those days where encouragement to keep moving forward is needed. I can’t thank the author enough!

[Nancy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Painfully Truthful

I could relate to just about everything this author wrote about widowhood. It was comforting to know my feelings are shared by others. While I did not always appreciate the scripture references, I may someday. My husband died 6 months ago, which seems like yesterday as well as an eternity.
Thank you for writing this book and sharing yourself.

[Joan A. Jazwinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knows How It Feels

I liked the book very much. Tells the story of her widowhood with knowledge and tact. There was nothing to dislike except her losing her husband. I like how Scripture was inserted throughout. Highly recommend to all widows. They will certainly find their reflection in this book.

[Ruthann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book after my wonderful husband left this life in 2019. I was struggling and still am. I found that I also had most of these feeling! I have as of this date read this great little book 4 times and find something new each time. I also have passed books along to other new and some not so new widows. They each have found this book very helpful.

[Ksorb · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was 14 years today that I learned my husband couldn't survive the damage to his brainstem from an AVM rupture - an undetected vascular birth defect. We were one flesh. I still wept - and sometimes sobbed - my way through this book. But tears wash and heal us, hope is grasped and strengthened, and courage is given. I recommend it to anyone who has lost her husband, the love of her life...

[Mary Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad passed 3 months ago. I read ‘A Widows Journey’ to understand what my mother is experiencing. I didn’t expect this book to make a profound impression on my life. I’ve loved my husband, Tom, dearly all of our 41 years of marriage but I learned to appreciate him more than ever. I encourage widows and their families to read ‘A Widows Journey’.

[Veronica Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing stronger day by day.

I loved that this was not a book full of advice. It's wonderful to know that someone feels and thinks the same as you. I only wish I had read this sooner.

[judy robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gayle opened her heart in this book. She doesn't give advice but ends each section with scripture appropriate to the situation. She shows that whatever emotions in feeling it is normal. She brought tears.

[Joyce Thacker]

A great book

I would highly recommend this book. I'm not a widow but have lost many other family members. Time is the one thing that does ease our pain and of course our great hope in Christ.

[Terri Van brunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed and I cried! A great book for a widow to read. She expresses all the feelings we feel. Affirming that all these feelings are so normal when at times we feel like we should "just get over it". thank you for sharing so transparently.

[Vicki Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful

This book was very helpful she express the feeling of what you are going through as grief seems to overtake your life.Then she mixes it with very specific scripture that speaks comfort to your soul.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a widow for only 5 days, this book helped me to understand what I am feeling now, as well as what to expect. The grief is overwhelming right now, but I know that I will gradually be re-born as a new me, without my husband.

[Phyllis M Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindred Spirit

As a new widow trying to grieve well, this author expressed what I am feeling. It was like I was the one putting the words on the paper. Truly the best grief book I have read today. Thank you Gayle Roper.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book 6 months after my husband died. I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down. I found so many of the authors feelings and experiences mirrored what I am going through. Definitely for women going through a recent death of their spouse.

[Anita Welborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s been there!

I loved her writing. She very vividly expressed my same feelings as a widow . No one but a widow could have written these words.
Thank you for sharing your heart.

[Kathryn Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gayle Roper
A Widow's Journey 5 🌟(ab 6 hrs)[ One of my favorite authors. Well done. Lots of frank vignettes about her grief as she moves through time, each ending with encouraging verses. I believe most of her books are novels.

[linda schnur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widow for one year

I liked this book so much that I bought an extra copy for a friend who is a new widow.

[Jorjan Loos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book so much that I bought several copies to give to other widows. I felt validated many times throughout Gayle's book.