Letter of Consolation to an Afflicted Widow

Grace and peace be with you, and kind greetings, sincerely beloved sister in the Lord, whom my soul loves. Since the merciful Lord has called you to widowhood, my fatherly and faithful admonition to you, as a father to his children, is this: bear your lot as becomes holy women, and serve the Lord with the pious Hannah in the holy temple, that is, in his church, or a new and upright conscience, with fasting and prayer night and day. At all times treat the needy saints as the virtuous widow of Sarepta in Zidon treated the faithful Elijah in the time of the drought and panic, when she received him into her house and fed him with her handful of meal and a little oil; and the meal of the holy, divine word from the measure of your conscience, and the joyful oil of the Holy Spirit, shall not be withheld from you. And if the new son of your spiritual birth should sicken a little and lose his breath for a time, through the weakness to which a widow is naturally subject, yet our true Elias, Jesus Christ, will bring him to life again through his grace and restore you again to cheerfulness; for, as the Scriptures teach, you receive, love and serve him in his members.

Beloved sister, understand me rightly. I speak of the needy saints, and no further. Those who have enough of their own do not need your help and services. True Christians should not put each other to unnecessary expense. Faithful sister, walk prudently; fear your God sincerely; crucify your flesh and its lusts; withstand the enemy and all his enchantments; bear everything piously; do not imprudently cause anybody trouble; attend diligently to your occupation, household and children; carefully shun all unchastity, vain babbling, pomp and splendor; earnestly guard against being led by the temptations of the flesh, so that you do not become like the widows who lost their first faith and followed after the devil, as Paul says; from which may the merciful Father always save you. Receive in love this brief greeting of mine, written to you in true, fatherly affection, and reflect on it diligently. The saints here greet you. Greet all pious friends. Pray for me. The eternal, saving power and fruit of the precious blood of Christ be with my chosen, much beloved sister in eternity. Amen.

Your loving and well-wishing brother,

MENNO SIMON.

May 18th.