"Faith does not make anything hurt less.
The promise of heaven doesn’t make it nearer to me.
There is strength and courage in faith,
but there is not anesthesia.

But I can say I have embraced my grief.
I have walked boldly alongside this unwanted friend,
allowing it to do its work in me.
And this has been one of the most important decisions of my life.

* Nancy Guthrie and Gregory Floyd have each written books on the grief of loss, as they have each grieved the death of children.  Here, I have borrowed their words, as I can speak this sentiment with no more grace than they."

I found the above on an inspiring blog I read daily, http://www.tricialottwilliford.com/ by a dear woman with 2 small children who lost her husband to a tragic and sudden illness just days before Christmas.  She has blogged daily since the day he died.