You Are Not Alone Becoming a widow is one of the most difficult experiences in life. We are often overwhelmed by being alone. No one chooses to join this sisterhood, but when any woman finds herself there, she needs comfort and encouragement from those who understand. When Anne was widowed at 48, she found that other widows offered comfort and encouragement like no one else. They penetrated the fog of grief that threatened to overwhelm her. They held her as she cried. They helped her laugh and enjoy simple pleasures like lunch with the girls again. They treated her like she was normal, more than just a widow. They were unruffled by her reactions. They simply understood. Oh, the things other people said and did during that time! Perhaps they meant well, but they lacked understanding. After her husband died Anne read everything she could get her hands on about grief and being a widow. While the books had their value, it was many widows’ words that helped her get up, find hope and begin to heal. Widows’ Words is borne out of her desire to help other widows experience that same kind of comfort from those who have walked in her shoes. With stories, poems, a few thoughts, and even jokes, the wealth of many widows’ words offer nuggets of hope. The book takes 10 things people typically say at a funeral and shares different widows’ thoughts and experiences about that topic. With nature photos and comforting scriptures, it reads like a group of women sharing a conversation. Together they offer powerful influence for hope and encouragement to each widow so that she can know that she is not alone.