Wait . . .

Tuesday

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
-- James 1:27

by Maxine Covington

Until recently, polygamy and “wife inheritance” (in which the nearest male relative of a deceased husband “inherits” his widow and children) have been common in many African cultures. These practices, meant to secure the family and land, are now declining with the growth of Christian communities and the increasing pressures of urban life. But in rural areas, they are still prevalent and contribute to the wildfire spread of HIV/AIDS.

A widow who refuses inheritance may be shunned by her own family, who might believe that breaking with tradition will bring on a curse, and terrorized by her husband’s family, who are sometimes motivated by a wish to inherit the dead man’s property along with his family. Indeed, if she refuses inheritance, it is often true that a woman will end up without land, home, or community.

We met one such widow in the Lake Victoria region. She refused inheritance because of her strong Christian faith, was driven from her homestead, and is living in a tiny tin shack.

Her younger son is severely ill with AIDS. Though free anti-retroviral drugs have recently become available for children in this region, his nutritional status is so poor that he is not yet eligible to begin treatment. All efforts are focused on helping him gain some weight so that he can receive proper medication.

Meanwhile, his thin, weak mother walks daily to the lake to buy a few fish to resell in the marketplace. Then she draws a bucket of murky water for her family to drink and struggles home – a football field’s length, uphill – with it balanced precariously on her head. Some days she doesn’t eat.

Yet she clings to her faith and teaches it to her son. We visited with this family for perhaps an hour, speaking through a translator. Feeling utterly helpless, we offered a prayer before leaving.

It was clear that to this tiny, frail boy, this was the most significant part of our time together, as he whispered the only words we heard him speak. In a small hushed voice, he said,

“Mommy, they prayed for me.”

God of compassion, we lift up our prayers for this woman and her children, and for the other widows and orphans for whom life on earth is a tremendous struggle each day. In our helplessness we draw upon you, the living water, for strength, for hope, and for your light to shine through the darkness. Thank you for the gift of prayer that binds us together and that we can offer to others in any situation. It’s in your precious name we pray. Amen.