Walk With Me, Jesus: A Widow's Journey. Ronda Chervin Ph.D.

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      Walk With Me, Jesus

      A Widow's Journey

      by

      Ronda Chervin Ph.D.

      with

      Heidi Hess Saxton

      foreword by

      Johnnette S. Benkovic

      OTHER SIMON PETER PRESS, INC. BOOKS BY RONDA CHERVIN

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      OTHER BOOKS PUBLISHED BY SIMON PETER PRESS, INC.

      Addicted to Stuff

      Dale O'Leary

      Experience Grace in Abundance

      Johnnette S. Benkovic

      Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life

      Johnnette S. Benkovic

      Study Guide

      Facilitator's Guide

      Facilitator's Kit

      Raising Up Mommy

      Heidi Hess Saxton

      Simon Peter School Scripture Study (Elementary School Level)

      Tammy Woell

      A-Z Memory Verses

      Student Book and Teacher's Manual

      Gospel of Luke

      Student Book and Teacher's Manual

      Acts of the Apostles

      Student Book and Teacher's Manual

      DVD OFFERINGS

      Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life

      Teachings by Johnnette Benkovic

      The Father's Gift: Jesus in the Holy Eucharist

      Copyright 2008 by Ronda Chervin

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. For permission to reprint any portion of this book, contact Permissions Editor, Simon Peter Press, Inc., P.O. Box 2187, Oldsmar, FL 34677.

      Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in this book are from the Revised Standard Version, © 1946, 1952, 1957, 1965, and 1966, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Published by Thomas Nelson publishers for Ignatius Press. Used by permission.

      Cover and interior design by Image Graphics & Design. All rights reserved.

      Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America, © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.-Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.-Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

      This is a derivative work of two books by Ronda Chervin, originally entitled A Widow's Walk (published by Our Sunday Visitor) and Weeping with Jesus.

      Published by Simon Peter Press, Inc. PO Box 2187, Oldsmar, FL 34677

      08 09 10 11 12 13 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Printed in the United States of America

      ISBN 10: 0-9777430-3-9

      ISBN 13: 978-0-9777430-3-2

      Published in eBook format by Simon Peter Press Inc

      Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com

      eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-9361-5961-1

      For the First Dedicated Widows of the Holy Family:

      Magdalena, Doreen, Marilyn, Dolores, Diane, and Marion

      FOREWORD

      by Johnnette S. Benkovic

      A Grief Shared

      In April 2007, my daughter and I sought a ten-day respite on a sunny west coast Florida beach. It had been a difficult three years. We both needed time to heal and recuperate, and I knew I needed time to pray: specifically for discernment, wisdom, and guidance.

      Earlier that month, my husband of nearly thirty-four years died of a Glioblastoma Multiforme IV brain tumor. Anthony's diagnosis had come just one year after our 25-year-old son had been killed in a vehicular accident soon after returning from serving his country in Iraq. My life had changed remarkably, and widowhood loomed large before me. If I were to meet this new challenge with faith, I knew I needed holy wisdom and guidance. Only in and through God could I find the treasury of grace packaged in the wrappings of my suffering.

      Would I discover God's will for me as I made retreat with Him on that sunny shore? This was the question I asked, and its answer was the hope of my heart.

      Anthony and I had experienced and witnessed abundant blessings through our crucible of suffering. Though it had been an intensely difficult time, it was a time robust with God's grace. We learned, in stunning ways, that His grace is always sufficient; that He is in the midst of all things; that His perfect plan is worked out in inexplicable and yet comprehensible ways; that everything He permits can be used to unite us more closely to Him; that Our Blessed Mother holds us in her immaculate heart; and that the Cross, when embraced, becomes a doorway to joy.

      These were costly lessons to learn, and lessons I prayed to apply to my new state in life. I took a few prayer "tools" with me to my beachside retreat: my rosary, my Bible, the Divine Office, a copy of Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, and writings on widowhood written by Ronda Chervin. As one day turned into another, I began to hear the voice of God speaking to me through these resources, offering me encouragement and insight, direction and hope.

      I was especially edified by Ronda's writings. A widow herself, Ronda candidly shared her own struggle with widowhood and the challenges it presents. She told the stories of several holy women who became icons of triumph to me: St. Elizabeth Seton, Blessed Conchita, St. Jane de Chantal, Praxedes Fernandez, St. Rita of Cassia, and others. Some of these saintly women had immediate and pressing challenges to face - financial ruin, irascible relatives, small children to provide for, bitter and nearly inconsolable grief, the aftermath of painful and unhappy marriages, unusual circumstances and situations.

      But each of them had learned a great lesson, a heavenly secret, a pearl of great price: they discovered how to make widowhood a pilgrim way to God, a path leading to sanctity СКАЧАТЬ