3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,[a] 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.1 Timothy 5

It’s easier for me to study and focus on something when I have it broken down and in sections. I have separated this list into the inspirational woman and the woman we should avoid becoming.

Supplications and prayers night and day
Wife of one husband
Reputation for good works
Brought up children
Shown hospitality
Washed the feet of the saints (any Christian is a saint)
Cared for the afflicted
Devoted herself to every good work
Manage their households
Let her care for the widows

What this looks like in my eyes, in today’s world, and the practical ways to practice this in our own households…

• She immediately prays when she sees a need (or writes it down). She prays WITH people when necessary. She doesn’t just say “I’ll pray for you” and doesn’t follow through.
• She doesn’t have emotional friendships with other men, going to them for advice or about her marriage or household. She doesn’t spend time alone with men other than family unless she is helping to care for the sick.
• She is present with her own children, not leaving them under other people’s care for long periods of time. She is there to teach them day to day life and they learn by watching her.
• Serves the people around her. In our church, we practice the act of foot washing like Jesus did. In His time this was practical but we use it today as a symbol of humility and servitude.
• Cares for her family and extended family when they get sick. An older relative falls and breaks a bone, someone becomes bedridden, becomes disabled, needs daily reminders.
• She looks for ways she can be an answer to prayer. Food, clothing, giving a ride. 
• Manages her household by putting the correct food on the table, oversees the education, pays the bills on time, grows her own food if she can, keeps the house clean.
• Takes meals to widows, calls them, writes them letters, or sends cards. Takes them places when it’s needed. If you are able and your Head of Household allows it, take a widow into your home.

If you do all these things the first woman did, you probably won’t have time to be the second woman…

Self-indulgent
Abandoned their former faith
Idlers
Going about from house to house
Gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not

Food for thought: How would you consider social media into this? Is it possible in today’s age to go about from house to house… without ever leaving ours? Do we spend our online time being busybodies and gossiping over the latest events? What could we be doing in our home besides sitting online, looking into other people’s lives?