Coffee With a Widower
His wife died one week after their daughter was born. She left behind a two-year-old son, a newborn daughter, and a husband reeling and gasping for air.
He said, “I’d love to meet you for coffee sometime. We should share our stories.”
And so we did.
He cried as he listened to my story. He cried as he told me his.
He’s remarried now, he and his new wife have had a child together, and his daughter is in Tyler’s class.
(She’s darling.)
One life, one love, one story – doesn’t replace another one.
I listened carefully. In the course of one conversation, he spoke with joy about the life he lives, the woman he loves; and his eyes filled with tears as he told me about the woman he first married and the day he lost her.
He could embrace joy with his new life and still deeply miss the former one.
He showed me that one thing – one life, one love, one story – doesn’t replace another one.
His heart has the capacity to hold both.
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Claire Pisor says:
Just as it does with multiple children…..
twiceblessed says:
It’s been nearly 10 years since the love of my life “left for home” to be with our Lord. I’ve been blessed with another deep and beautiful love and have been married for nearly 3 years. I love this man as dearly and as deeply as I ever did my first husband, but even after 10 years a thought, a look, even a billboard will bring tears to my eyes. My mother-in-law lost her first husband more than 40 years ago. She was happily remarried for over 35 years, yet she still tears up whenever she thinks of him. momofabc is right; the second doesn’t replace the first, but we have been doubly blessed to love twice in a lifetime.
tricialottwilliford says:
Twice Blessed. What beautiful words. 🙂
Sylvia says:
Sigh………………………..
momofabc says:
It’s so true! My mom got remarried 1 1/2 years after my father died, and people assumed she had “moved on”. What does that even mean??? She loves her new husband but he doesn’t replace her first love; she’s simply lucky enough to love twice in her lifetime.
tricialottwilliford says:
This is a beautiful story, a beautiful example. Thank you for sharing, momofabc. 🙂
t
Christine O says:
Needed this one Tricia. “He could embrace joy with his new life and still deeply miss the former one.” I can relate, but in a different way. 🙂
MrsMK says:
Thank you for sharing this.
Elisabeth says:
I love how your blogs are short and sweet and say so much. I hope I can accomplish that with my words someday, I admire you so much 🙂
Patty Kline says:
I’m going to be thinking a lot about those last three sentences, Tricia. Thank you for sharing his story and the lessons contained therein for us all.
Lisa Basner says:
Wow.
Melissa says:
“He showed me that one thing – one life, one love, one story – doesn’t replace another one.
His heart has the capacity to hold both.”
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
terry says:
how precious dear tricia….love terry
Janis Lile says:
WHAT AN INSPIRING THOUGHT!!!