Widowhood Workshop
Teacher
Lesson Summary
The class began with Dean Miller introducing the Widowhood Workshop, explaining its purpose to better understand and serve those who have lost a spouse. He shared a poignant clipping from his mother’s papers describing widowhood as one of the most difficult roles, and narrated his own experience caring for his wife Ruth Ann through Parkinson’s disease until her death on Christmas morning 2013. Dean highlighted the emotional challenges of widowhood, such as loneliness, bitterness, and self‑pity, and emphasized the need to transform that grief into spiritual growth. The session then turned to statistical realities, noting that about 6% of the U.S. population are widows, with the average age of first widowhood for women at 57, illustrating the broad impact across generations. Dean discussed the parallels between loss through death and divorce, and stressed the church’s responsibility to address this often‑overlooked need. Personal testimonies, references to the book “Widow’s Might,” and stories of family were woven together, underscoring the importance of compassion, community support, and trusting God’s perspective on suffering.