Love Lives On: Learning from the Extraordinary Encounters of the Bereaved

Bought this book as a gift, it was in perfect condition and arrived in plenty of time for gift giving.

I have recently lost my beloved husband, and was having a terribly hard time dealing with the loss. This book was so encouraging to me that I have read it 3 times now and highlighted many passages. I would highly recommend it to anybody grieving the death of a loved one.

D.Louis LaGrand has spent years interviewing,writing,counseling,observing ,questioning and contributing to the field of bereavement and positive ways that one can cope with what is left of their life here on Earth.I have read all of his books and know him personally and realize that he is an extraordinary human being.His tireless efforts to open up the field of bereavement and realization that there is another "world" that our loved ones inhabit , helps everyone who reads his many books."Love Lives On ",continues his quest to let everyone know the need to read,to accept,to let grief take its course and to take action to help one heal in their own time.I would recommend any and all of his books as essential reading for any bereaved individuals as extraordinary encounters are commonplace and must be explored and understood as part of our preparation to undertake the same journey that our loved ones have traveled before us. Love Does Live On , forever,forever and forever!!!!!!!!!

This book is about dealing with the grief that accompanies the death of a loved one. The author draws from his extensive research in the area of Extraordinary Encounters (EEs) - what is sometimes called after-death communication or spiritual experiences. "Many of these encounters have resulted in dramatic shifts in beliefs and in the behavior of those receiving them - changes that might otherwise take years of therapy or a major lifestyle alteration to achieve," he writes. Dr. Louis LaGrand is a former distinguished service professor at State University New York (SUNY-Potsdam), where he started the first college course on death and bereavement. A certified grief counselor, he has authored several other books on the subject. He has been active in hospice and lectures frequently on dealing with grief. While the skeptics will say that EEs are merely anecdotal and perhaps the result of wishful thinking, coincidence, or hallucination, most experiencers do not so easily discount them. "I was stunned," LaGrand quotes one experiencer. "Yet, as I walked back to my room I knew what I saw and what I had experienced. It was real." As LaGrand points out, the EEs are for the most part beyond our understanding, but they do suggest that some part of us goes on in a world of spirit. Moreover, where there are bonds of love, the deceased remain concerned with loved ones left behind and often try to help them. "EEs help us understand that death is a temporary separation," LaGrand offers, "a transitional step a doorway to another kind of relationship between people." While many grief counselors say that we should forget about our deceased loved ones and move on with life, an emerging view, of which LaGrand is a leader, is that we should continue to embrace them. However, as LaGrand points out, there is a difference between love and attachment. The latter can be binding and constricting. He also points out that some people having EEs can fall into the trap of wanting more in the way of another sign or visitation, thereby failing to move forward. Nevertheless, the EEs can offer comfort and peace of mind. "I've seen the way EEs can be the difference between coping well with a loss or being mired in pain and isolation," LaGrand states. "There are untold numbers of mourners who have found more meaning in the unexplainable - the confidence, hope, trust, and love that begin a web of healing relationships - than in any rational or logical experiences in their lives." LaGrand gives many tips on dealing with grief and incorporating the EEs into one's mourning. Overall, it is a very interesting and informative read.

A must have book for professionals and laymen alike! Another term to describe "Love Lives On" would be Bereavement Healing 101. What impressed me about "Love Lives On" is that this book gives extremely important and insightful information that have proven to help in healing from grief. "Love Lives On" is like taking a crash course for bereavement counselors and mourners alike, yet it is a very easy read. Dr. LaGrand has had the courage to include the concept of spiritual visitations that many of the bereaved often receive, which have greatly aided in their healing, and may be a new concept for professionals. I have also had the pleasure of personally meeting Dr. LaGrand, who is an expert in this field. He is a man who has a very compassionate heart, who sincerely cares about helping the bereaved, and has dedicated his life to this work. "Love Lives On" is an excellent book and I high recommend it. Christine Duminiak Certified Grief Recovery Specialist Author - "God's Gift of Love: After-Death Communications--For Those Who Grieve"