The list author says: "The death of a loved one, whether anticipated or not, is one of the hardest things a human being can endure. Feeling isolated and alone only increases the pain. How blessed we are to have some fine resources we can turn to for support, strength, and courage during the hardest times. Here is a short list of resources that have helped me personally when my husband died, followed shortly thereafter by the death of my mother, then some dear cousins, aunts and uncles, and a niece, and most recently by one of my best friends. If you have lost a loved one and are in pain, I hope it will help you to know that you are not alone, and that you can lean on the strength of others until you find your own."
"More than 100 beautiful stories of strength, healing, and hope, covering nearly every type of loss you will face. A perfect gift for someone who is suffering and needs to feel a ray of hope that life can be beautiful again."
"This CD was my companion through one of the hardest periods of my life. Gretchen Harris shares her gorgeous soprano voice and guides us back from darkness to finding joy and peace once again. I have given this as a gift to many friends who were grieving, and all have expressed how much it helped them."
"An excellent and compassionate tool as we heal from grief -- often forgiveness and the redemption we feel after forgiving are precisely the missing component when it feels like we've done everything but that lump in our throat just won't go away."
"One of the best pieces of advice I received as I learned how to grieve was to set aside a time and place each day in which to do my grief work. Enya's soothing voice was often the backdrop to these sacred periods of contemplation, tears, and healing."
"Teens and children grieve differently from adults. This book is an excellent resource for parents (and others)who want to understand and help the youngest family members deal with loss."
"Heartfelt essays, stories and poems written with unique insight by Louise Palmer, dealing with all aspects of life with those we love. I return to this book again and again, especially when I am missing my own dear mother who died six years ago."
"My own sweet Dad is still with us, but many of my friends have recently had to cope with the death of their own fathers. This book is invaluable. I also encourage it for all of us who love our dads -- it includes some helpful ideas of discussions we may want to have with our fathers before it is too late."
"After the loss of a loved one, men often experience depression and don't even realize it. This is an excellent resource to help the men in our lives recognize and express their grief, before it is too late. Former NFL Quarterback Eric Hipple candidly discusses his own experience after his teenage son died from suicide."
"The classic book that gave us a framework for dealing with our mortality and the death and loss of our loved ones. Elisabeth Kubler Ross's contributions to our understanding of how we process death and grief is monumental."
"This is a wonderful book filled with lots of practical information, lots of things our shattered minds can't even fathom, yet which must still be faced and dealt with if we are to heal."
"This sweet little book deals with anticipatory grief -- our loved one is dying and we have no idea how to handle all the feelings that are surging through us. Thank you to Mitch Albom for sharing this tenderness with the world."
"Sometimes we find hope in the most unexpected places, such as this three-year-old boy's account of his trip to and from heaven. This isn't really a book for children, but it can help us adults better understand how children view mortality."
"Very personal and heart rending account of the sudden, unexpected death of her beloved husband and the terrifying life she faced as a widow. Finding small treasures helps restore her from the depths of despair, and puts her on the track to healing."
"Cancer has no doubt touched each of our lives, sometimes with earth-shattering consequences. Rather than viewing "The Big C" as a vast, scary, incomprehensible space, this books helps us wrap our brains around cancer, and brings us to a sense of empowerment."
"That ever-present question that seems to loop incessantly when our loved one dies: "Why?" This book provides some insight and some answers. Very comforting."
