In a deeply personal holiday message, a young widow shared her journey through grief during her first Thanksgiving without her husband, a prominent conservative activist who was tragically assassinated earlier this year.
The holiday, she reflected in a social media post, was one they had always cherished for its focus on gratitude—a practice she now clings to more than ever. “Even now, well, especially now, in the depths of the ache, I’m reminded of that gratitude,” she wrote. She expressed thankfulness for the years of marriage she shared with the love of her life, their two young children, and the overwhelming support from family, friends, and strangers worldwide.
Her post, accompanied by a visit to a memorial site adorned with flowers and artwork, acknowledged the profound void left by her husband’s death. “It’s easy to fixate on what’s been taken, at what’s missing,” she admitted. Yet, she described a conscious effort to focus on the blessings that remain, calling them sacred. She specifically thanked the countless individuals who have sent letters, gifts, and tokens of faith, stating she is saving each one for her children to understand the legacy of their father.
“I’m thankful for a God who brings life out of ashes, who guards my heart, and who carries us as we do our best…today and every day,” she concluded, directly addressing her late husband with the promise, “We’ll save a plate for you.”
The emotional tribute drew immediate support from her community, with friends and public figures offering prayers and words of admiration for her strength and faith during an unimaginable time.
The widow’s public grief comes just weeks after she found herself in unrelated headlines, defending a moment of physical comfort with a political figure at a public event. She explained that her “love language is touch” and described the hug as a spontaneous gesture of emotional support.
