Love Is Strong As Death: Moving Through Grief

Learning that my son's mother has been diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, I have just read this book for the second time and am amazed at what I missed the first time. Especially meaningful is the placing of James Dillet Freeman's most famous poem (It was placed on the moon by one of the astronauts), "I Am There" at the end of the "Contending with God" part of the book. Another facet I missed the first time was the descriptions of various people he needed to deal with during this period of his life. Everyone who has contact with not only those who are dying, but with those who are to be bereaved, or already are can learn from this book.I myself feel that the book is not depressing but uplifting, however the reader should be prepared to accompany the author through the challenges he faced as a deeply spiritual person who discovers that he's totally unprepared for loss of his wife. While reading the book, one is impressed especially by her strength of spirit. There are passages where he indicates that her strength was greater than his.There is honesty here as he deals with the fact that he went through a period of doubting that there is a loving presence in the universe. All in all, this is a book I honestly recommend, but with the caution that this is my perspective. Some readers may read more into the sorrow than into the love, but indeed, the love is there.