"Let me know if there is anything I can do." This well-meaning offer is frequently expressed when a relative or friend suffers a death or other heart-wrenching loss such as divorce, termination of a job, having to put a parent in a nursing home or Alzheimer's facility, loss of one's home, or the "empty nest" syndrome. This book moves beyond that offer and other platitudes and gives practical steps to take to help alleviate the pain of loss-the heartbreak from a variety of shattering experiences. These steps are drawn straight from real-life experiences; the stories of people demonstrate how one or more of these seven steps helped them turn grief of futility and despair into understanding, faith, and hope. "The New York Times" bestselling author Barbara Russell Chesser is uniquely qualified to write this book. She has personally triumphed over a variety of griefs, and as a university professor, she conducted research on grief and taught courses about it. Her work with families and individuals has taken her to the African countries of Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Morocco, and to the Philippines and Greece. The sole author of four books and co-author of four other books, Dr. Chesser is also the editor of several volumes and author of numerous articles, including features in "Reader's Digest."