09/02/2026
Love does not replace grief. Nor does grief dim love.
Angela Grant is one of those friends who become family. I had met her several years ago while experiencing the grief of not having my children with me all the time due to divorce. Through our conversations as well as reading through her first book, The Awakening of Love 2:7, I began to realize that the grief I was facing could fuel the love I could share with my kids.
About a year ago, Angela shared the idea for this book. I was excited - people often talk about grief with a lot of therapy terms. This book paints a vivid picture an actual wedding between love and grief. The bridal party, the cake, even the music being played. No detail is missed as Angela's words describes the perfect union between love and grief.
With all of the symbolism and storytellin throughout the book, I finished the book with a sense of calmness that I've lacked recently. I've gone through a recent loss of a job and income. I had fallen into the trap of thinking that I can't move forward to a do work I loved until the grief had passed. This book reminded me that both love and grief can and should exist together.
My favorite passage from the book:
Love's ring reads, "Remember."
Grief's ring reads, "Transform."
When you can see your grief journey perfectly captured through a description of a wedding - taking steps forward become more purposeful. They are driven with a hope and a delight that treasures the memories while growing through the gift of grief.
You might have read other books, gotten AI to gather strategies for grief, or even sought out therapy. None of that can do what this book has done to craft a story that you can see grief and love so powerfully woven together. I highly recommend this book for those who feel trapped with grief and want to grow in love.
