Dear readers: Thank you for your comments. I read each one and appreciate you taking the time to put your thoughts together.

As one who has been involved in grief since our two-year-old daughter died in the early 70s, I have been interested in different definitions. Clearly looking for one that fit for my experience. Some have not been helpful. Some have set me back, while others have made sense and have been the greatest assistance toward understanding and healing.

The one that I teach at grief seminars is “Grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss or change of any kind.” This one definitely made sense to me over the years. Realizing that grief is neither a pathological order or a personality problem is also helpful. While reading mega websites on grief, this definition is so familiar, and just feels right: “Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior” (Grief Recovery Method). Check out their website – a tried and true grief resource.

Think on this and put pen to paper to jot down your feelings. It may be difficult to give grief any credit. You might ask how I can be thankful for the sorrow and sadness I feel? How can I ever acknowledge that the gifts of grief are to be appreciated? And is there such a feeling as ‘letting self down into grief’? There is! And one can grow in faith, knowledge and relationship. It is definately a learning curve, as well as an emotional rollorcoaster.