I just attended a touching memorial service for a family member from my former marriage. I was grateful that he had been blessed with a 45 year loving relationship with his partner, especially because he had suffered serious health problems since he was a young man. I have not been granted the same kind of relationship. But as this beautiful poem says only God knows why and things that cannot happen in our lives, do happen somewhere else. I thought to myself, if indeed there are only so many such relationships to be doled out, I am truly grateful that he received one of them. And I can try to keep hope and acceptance in balance and dwell only on what has been possible for me–two beautiful children and four incredible grandchildren–a gift that has not always been bestowed on others. When we all meet, those parts that have softly died in us will become whole as we see how our hopes and dreams have been fulfilled in others.