Perspectives is live on YouTube and Arise TV every Saturday at 11am WAT. Today’s topic is bereavement. How do spouses handle the death of their lifetime partner?
Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru Main Speech:
Suddenly, your flesh of flesh, your backbone, your heartbeat, your ride or die, your forever love. Is gone? Death is never easy on anyone. Many times, we mourn strangers. But when it happens to the man or woman you vowed to love “till death do us part”, how do you move on? Some widows said “life became meaningless” one said “I felt so ruined and began to countdown to my own fateful end” Some other widows said “strength became a necessity” one said “I had to be so strong for my children and my other dependents, I bounced back from grief in no time. I had to”
No one can tell another how to grief or the ideal timeframe of grief. Level of grief depends on the depth and strength of love. Widows who were truly, deeply in love and cannot fathom life alone, experience the most excruciating turmoil. Widows who served as caretaker for their spouse all through final moments and those who have been widowed before, may bounce back quicker. And widows who did not genuinely love their spouse, and may have caused, planned or contributed to the demise, rarely grief deeply or genuinely.
Certain developed countries provide bereavement support and death-related benefits to struggling widows. In Nigeria, many widows go through hefty emotional and financial pain in addition to the existence of extreme poverty. It is important to have good friends, family and people you can depend on to limit turbulent tears and convert grief into a celebration of life and more life to come.
Closing Message from Princess Oniru:
To every widow, recent and past, wishing you strength on earth to bounce back after grief and avoid being further deprived by your loss. To everyone else, i hope we practice more of giving every loved one, all the love we can, while they are alive, hale and hearty. Help those around you to live a full, meaningful and wealthy life that will be celebrated after death. The key to a better world today is humanity. Our world needs a much stronger dosage of healthy love, care and compassion.
