In this third blog post of my financial journey as a young widow, I want to share one of the best pieces of advice I received when Jon and I were anticipating getting married. Our mentors at the time said, “Get life insurance. No matter how tight the budget is, make it a priority. Life can change in an instant, and you want to be prepared as much as possible.”

I had no idea that the advice given to two young college students would have such an impact on our lives.

Life Insurance
Jon and I got life insurance a few years after we were married, shortly after our first child was born, and since we were young and healthy, it was pretty inexpensive. Some months it seemed like a chore to continue to pay it, but we remembered the advice we were given and kept our policies.

And then the unexpected happened. Jon died. I never thought I would have to use his life insurance, but that was another way God provided for us. 

When I called the company to let them know Jon had passed, they asked me to fax a copy of his death certificate to get the process going. In a matter of weeks, they sent me a check for his life insurance, and it gave us a cushion in our finances.

If you have received money from your late husband’s life insurance but are not ready to use it yet, or have some leftover after paying urgent expenses, I would recommend that you speak with a financial advisor. They can help you understand your options and guide you to what is best for you. 

You may be in a situation where your late spouse didn’t have life insurance. If this is you, I would strongly encourage you to get your own life insurance policy. Life insurance helps those left behind after you pass with funeral and burial expenses, living expenses, medical expenses and so much more. It may seem like a frivolous expense at this time, but in my opinion, it is a very important step in protecting your children. 

Life insurance doesn’t bring a loved one back, and it’s not a fun thing to have to use, but I am thankful that it was in place before Jon was diagnosed and wouldn’t have qualified. I am also thankful for God’s guidance through our mentor that gave us such sound advice. I am continually grateful that God provided in such tangible ways after Jon passed. Walking through the shock and grief were overwhelming, trying to grapple with finances was the last thing I wanted to do. But God had everything in place. 

Please note: I am not a financial advisor, an accountant, or lawyer, so please do not take the information I am providing as legal advice.
 If you would like to reach out, please leave a comment below or find me on Facebook here and Instagram here. 
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The First Year
Navigating Life as a Widow with Young Children: Three Lessons I Wish I had Learned Earlier
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1 Comment

  1. Heather Unangst  01/30/2024 08:09 AM Central
    I became a widow two years ago and then lost my dad three weeks later. I have 4 daughters. At the time they were 22, 20, 18, and 14. We had started house repairs and my oldest was in the middle of planning her wedding.!we had purchased life insurance the year before and it helped, but I didn’t get to pay as much on mortgage as I wanted. There is so much to deal with. My husband dealt with the bills and my income has changed drastically. One of our daughters is special needs. I’m still trusting the Lord and have been asking Him for His strategies. I desperately need His strategy now. I should have been a little wiser initially but in the throes of grief and this was unexpected, you just aren’t as clear. And trying to take care of kids. By God’s grace we survived. Now my kids are dealing with grief at different stages. There is just so much. I would also recommend signing clauses that if in the case of death the debt is paid off. I’m dating now, and that has created new challenges and changes, and more emotions in response to grief that comes up. Thank you for the blessing of your writing.
    Lisa Bailey AUTHOR  01/30/2024 02:22 PM Central
    I am so sorry for your loss. It's such a difficult journey to navigate, and everyone processes things differently. There were things I could have done differently, but like you said, in the throes of grief, it's hard to think clearly. Grief is a challenging undertaking, and helping your kids grieve well presents a whole other layer to grapple with. Hugs to you and your girls as you walk through this together, and prayers as you begin dating.

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