Grief and Relief

A friend put in a request for a column addressing a sensitive subject. Over the years numerous folks have expressed similar emotions and there’s always guilt in their voices when they’ve told me about it.

When a loved one dies, the one left behind feels grief but, frequently, also relief. Our relief produces guilt. “If I truly loved him or her, how can I feel relief that they’re gone?”

Grief is a complex issue. It is neither simple nor is there a standard that applies to everyone. People may not express grief the way we expect. They may not feel grief until some time has passed. Sometimes, gri...