The death of a person you love is never easy to deal with, whether that is the death of a father, mother, brother, sister or a friend.

However, it is commonly said that the death of a spouse is one of the hardest things a person can deal with. I believe the reason is because the bond of a husband and wife goes much deeper than any other due to the dynamics that it involves including but not limited to the sexual union.

The sexual union in a marriage makes a husband and wife one.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh.

It seems as one grows up in age and independence, it is easy to leave the bond of a father and mother and enter into a new bond of a wife that is so strong that the Bible calls it one.

Maybe this oneness is what makes the death of a spouse feel so terrible, so painful, so devastating – because it is like a large part of you has also died – having become one with your spouse.

The deep love a man or woman can have for their spouse in a good relationship can make one wish their spouse lives forever here on earth with them.

The reality is that no one lives forever on this earth and that death does not always happened the way we want or imagine.

Therefore, because death does occur, and probably for you reading this book, death has already occurred of a spouse, we must be willing to embrace that reality and seek the best way we can live on in life in the absence of a spouse.

It is my belief that life after the death of a spouse can still be;

Fruitful, in spite of the loss of a helping hand,

Beautiful, in spite of the ashes left behind,

Meaningful in spite of the loss of your inspiring spouse,

Joyful in spite of the death of the delight of your heart,

Fulfilling in spite of the void left by the departed spouse.

Impactful in spite of the loss of a part of you,

Long lived in spite of the departure of a dear one.

This book has therefore being written to offer some (not all) practical insights into what I think is very necessary to be known and done after the death of a spouse to ensure the surviving spouse lives a fruitful, beautiful, meaningful, joyful, fulfilling, impactful and long life.