When comfortable habits woven through our relationship are ruptured by the loss of a human life and familiar words or actions are suddenly disrupted, a void is created. Even though death is a natural process in the human life cycle, sorrow is usually the first emotion to enter this void.
A celebration of the life once lived is not the most common concept in our society. People are typically devastated that a friendly phone call, reminder or love note, text message or an unexpected gift from a loved one will no longer happen. Grief causes some people to withdraw and not want to be with others. Many people want time alone to absorb such a personal loss. With so much going on emotionally, being out in the public is often difficult, and there are folks who may not understand a sudden yet natural response of withdrawal.
The discomfort of people who do not know how to manage the many challenges which accompany the grieving process can actually intensify the sensitivities of emotional and physical loneliness for people who grieve. On the other hand, if the one who experiences such grief craves an even stronger social connection, people who think it appropriate to give both space and time alone to grieve privately are likely to send nonverbal messages of insensitivity.
                      a message to Widows and those who grieve...