One of the hardest parts of early grief is believing no one can help you. When people asked if there was anything they could do, my first thought was, "Unless you can bring Dave back... no."

But grief has a way of changing that. There came a time I needed someone to help me, if only to sit across from me with a cup of coffee and let me speak about Dave without changing the subject.

And some of the people who helped me most weren't the people I expected. They were people who had already walked this road. Before Dave died, I knew widows. After Dave died, I understood them.

I think grief has a way of introducing us to the people we'll need most.