There is nothing that can replace the absence of someone dear to us, and one should not even attempt to do so. One must simply hold out and endure it. At first that sounds very hard, but at the same time it is also a great comfort.
For to the extent the emptiness truly remains unfilled one remains connected to the other person through it. It is wrong to say that God fills the emptiness. God in no way fills it but much more leaves it precisely unfilled and thus helps us preserve — even in pain — the authentic relationship.
Furthermore, the more beautiful and full the remembrances, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude transforms the torment of memory into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Walter Bright 
Great perspective, thank you for posting this my friend.
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Thanks Brian, it made sense to me in a very unique way. Too often when I hear people comfort others, frankly me too, it almost sounds like – forget about the loved one, let God fill the void. Well, God doesn’t want to erase your memory of the person, he want to help you to remember them in the way DB talks about.
Take care.
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Amen to that. We can still celebrate the memory and the good times afterward. I agree with your comment. Have a good evening!
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