Naomi and the Widows' Club: A Safe Strong Place after the Loss of a Spouse

by Naomi Rhode, Kim Harms

Society today does not prepare us for an time in life when we live alone. Most of us are not ready. In our death-denying culture, we make assumptions and plan for an life lived together with our spouses. We typically do not prepare for the shock, grief, loss of identity and social standing, economic insecurity, and loneliness that frequently accompanies the loss of our life partner. But God prepares us. The Bible contains an entire chapter focused on the plight of two Ruth, who is young, and Naomi, who is not. This book focuses on a modern day Naomi and the first year of encouragement she brought to 8 widows.

250 pages, Paperback

Published December 8, 2022

Reviews

[Donna Pingry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, what a timely book! I volunteer at a GriefShare Group in town. I was thinking of skipping the Loss of a Spouse portion because my loss was divorce. Now I can't wait to go back and share some of the wonderful thoughts and questions! I've already sat down with one of the leaders and raved about this book. I can't wait to buy a few copies to share. Loved everything about it, can't you tell?

All of us go through grief several times during our lives. Often grief is not talked about because no one knows what to say. We either avoid the subject and sadly, sometimes the griever. This book provides some great questions to help others and ourselves.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Muse Literary Publishing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Society today does not prepare us for an time in life when we live alone. Most of us are not ready. In our death-denying culture, we make assumptions and plan for an life lived together with our spouses. We typically do not prepare for the shock, grief, loss of identity and social standing, economic insecurity, and loneliness that frequently accompanies the loss of our life partner. But God prepares us. The Bible contains an entire chapter focused on the plight of two widows: Ruth, who is young, and Naomi, who is not. This book focuses on a modern day Naomi and the first year of encouragement she brought to 8 widows.

[R J Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review.

This story is both beautiful and touching. It's hard not to feel God's embrace as you read the stories of these women and the devotionals that accompany the chapters.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more designed for those who wish to start a small group for widows than for those who are widows or have friends who are widows. As such, it’s very encouraging and inspirational. It is not a devotional based on Naomi and Ruth, as I would have thought, based on the front cover. The author gives a how-to on leading such a group, with plans from actual sessions she has led. She also gives plans for specific holidays, which was enlightening.

There are also chapters from the individual members of the author’s Widow’s Club, telling about themselves and their husbands, and life since widowhood. They have a wide variety of experiences, which is interesting. Not sure it’s completely pertinent to the purpose of the book, but I didn’t mind it.

I would suggest that the author rewrite these plans for the book’s audience, rather than copying and pasting what she did in the past. We don’t need her remarks on her family vacations, and we do need clearer information in sections where she used notes that were not fleshed out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tanya Dreke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the free Kindle copy through giveaways. This is a beautifully written book. It certainly helps to have examples of ways to talk with people who have experienced loss. Many times I don’t know what to say for fear of saying the wrong things.

[Rebecca Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful for any form of grief.

We all have loos/grief. This was written for widows, but has good advice for grief in general. It’s a healing balm.

[Paula Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I lost my husband and it just felt a little too much for me.

I won this in a Goodreads book giveaway!