For each of us — rich or poor, young or old — there are times in our lives when we must face and deal with personal losses and the pain and sorrow they cause. Examples that come easily to mind are the death of a parent, spouse, child, or other close family member or friend. Many other events and transitions also bring with them sadness and a need to grieve:
Losses such as these are simply part of living. Like their counterparts among the joyful occasions in our lifetime — the birth of a child or grandchild, a celebration of marriage, an enduring friendship — they are part of what it means to share in the human experience. And the emotions they create in us are part of living, as well.