Tissues

 

Widows need tissues for their issues.

Not the spring grass or common cold or ear plug issues.  Widows need tissues for the wish-yous.

And Squish-yous.

And Kiss-yous.

Many times throughout the day, widows wish for her man's company, for his listening ear, for his perspective, for his... love.  They reach for tissues when the wish-yous aren't reachable.

Many times throughout a week or a month, widows feel squished into expectations, or roles, or emotions, or bravery.  They grab for a tissue when the squish-yous keep grabbing. 

So so many new, bewildering, unyielding, ever-adapting issues confront widows.  We forgive the issues.  They never planned to issue this life.  They never planned to create wishes and cause squishes.  But they do.  And so...

Widows need tissues.

Many times throughout a year, widows receive kiss-yous from family, from cards, from scripture, from memories.  They welcome kiss-yous when they need company or perspective.  They sense kiss-yous when they're affirmed or supported.  They capture kiss-yous, intended and unintended, that say, you are important, even so.  They collect kiss-yous that somehow lighten the issues.  And then quick -- they need tissues again.