A Widow’s Cruse

Shortly after my daughter’s wedding, I experienced a feeling of loneliness and dejection. I realized how totally I had been wrapped up in her life since my husband’s death. Her dating, education, and special activities had been my life. “What do I do now?” I thought to myself.

One day I decided to put an end to the feeling. I sat down at my kitchen table and made a list of all the things I wanted to do. The more I wrote, the more excited I got about life and the more good ideas flowed into my mind. I decided I wanted to attend the temple more often and pray more deeply. I wanted to get involved in the Special Interest program and make new friends, visit some of my older friends, babysit for mothers who needed a break (including my own relatives). There were books I could read and classes I could attend.

Since the day I made my list, I haven’t had a chance to be lonely or bored. My life is rich and fulfilling. Surprisingly, my list never gets any shorter. I have felt my supply of interests expand just as the widow’s cruse of oil did after the prophet Elijah blessed it.

Toni Cooper
Salt Lake City, Utah