Twenty years ago, I fell apart. Everything in my world was at odds with everything else and my mind just broke. There was all the usual hoopla - emergency psychiatric evaluations, medication, therapy - you name it, we did it, but my spirit had simply shattered. I began to visit a non-denominational church and eventually atttended a class there based on the books called, "A Course in Miracles." This course says, in part, "Teach only love, for that is what you are." How simple and, yet, how difficult we make it. I quote from renowned author, Gerald Jampolsky, "To love, we have to recognize what is the same about us and all living things ... Are we acting with love, with peace, with happiness ... for if we are, whatever we do will be right."

When we attack another's feelings, this is NOT acting with love. When we launch a verbal assault at someone simply for behaving differently than we do, this is NOT acting with peace. When we criticize another for grieving in a way we deem incorrect or excessive when WE have not experienced their pain, can this bring us happiness?

I implore everyone to stop and think before letting your anger or pain cause you to lash out at another. We are all here in search of love, of comfort, of understanding. If you don't agree with someone's feelings or beliefs and you are incapable of keeping it to yourself, perhaps you need to evaluate your anger and its source before making hateful remarks to someone who is already in enough pain.