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    Marriage is supposed to be a lifelong commitment to your spouse. There is hope that the union will end by death only. This does not give you permission to murder your spouse. “Until Death Do Us Part” is used to emphasize the importance of making your marriage work to the best of your ability. Modern day brides and grooms are replacing traditional vows with their own vows. “In sickness and in health”, “richer or poorer” or “for better or for worse” have been replaced with “until you make me angry” “until money runs out” or “until sickness comes”. Unfortunately, a lot of marriages are not making it to “Until Death Do Us Part”.
    Two weeks ago, my cousin’s husband transitioned. They were together thirty-seven years and married thirty-two of those years. They built a good life together. She did not have to worry about infidelity or outside children. During their marriage, the biggest scandal they had was him being accused of stealing money from the church. Stealing money from the church is not an uncommon accusation for men/women of God. They had their share of ups and down yet they remained inseparable. When he became ill, both remained faithful to God and each other. She never complained about the many visits to the doctor, lack of sleep, loads of laundry or his
dependency upon her. That’s a demonstration of love.

     At her husband’s funeral, the Pastor did something I have never witnessed. Because she was the wife of a Pastor, the officiating minister said he wanted to raise a widow’s offering. He asked everyone to bless my cousin as she has transitioned from wife to a widow and from two incomes to one. As watched the people in attendance dig deep into their pockets/purses and put money into those baskets, I cried. I cried because my cousin was in pain. I cried because a loved one transitioned.

    I cried because I witnessed the community and church come together in order to take care of a widow and her orphans. For my cousin’s faithfulness to God, her husband, children, church, and community, she received an unexpected monetary reward.

     “The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow….” (Psalm 146:9).

    It should be a great joy to partner with God in loving, protecting, and caring for widows and orphans.