People make appalling comments to us bereft. At a time when we can barely manage to drag ourselves through our days, we have to find the energy and graciousness to make allowances for people’s tactlessness, ignorance, and downright meanness. Most people are unaware of what it feels like to lose a significant part of their life, such as a spouse or a child, and they seem to be terrified of even thinking about that unthinkable happenstance, so they distance themselves from our pain with unfeeling words.
A person could write a whole book on just this topic. My heart aches when I hear some of the things people say and I really wonder if they think they would want to hear those words if their heart was broken open....
So are you going to write the book? I think you are correct, and I believe others will want to read it.
Maybe that should be my first project after I get my dissertation done…. keep an eye out for it!