It seems that my life is clouded with dark swirls of gray and black.  How could it be that my world went from light to dark?  "Healing After Loss" speaks to me and says that we will have lots of "first times"; for example Michael's first birthday, first Thanksgiving, Xmas, etc. At first these "events" will be small ones (first get together, first snow storm, etc.) and eventually build to greater milestones.  Each one will cast a dark shadow over our world and we'll wonder where we will get the strength and perseverance to continue.  

Certainly our loss will change our lives; that's a given.  But according to Martha Whitmore Hickman, the edges will soften.  Even more than that, other events will come along to lift our spirits and bring new meaning to our lives.  And during that time our grief, which has been a constant, will slowly slip into the background.  Our hearts will move to the front where they will open up and once again soak in that fabulous word called joy.  Rejoice!