If you’ve ever suffered the throes of grief, the idea of anything good coming from death seems cruel. Entertaining the idea feels impossible. That’s normal. It takes time and distance to get a broader, more accurate perspective. It’s worth the trouble to gain it because getting a fresh perspective on this loss can help you endure it and live a more meaningful life. As a doctor who serves the terminally ill, I’ve witnessed patients receive a grim diagnosis and then fight a brave but losing battle against illness. I’ve seen loved ones huddle in hospital emergency rooms following an accident to wait nervously for good news that would never come. I’ve sat with patients, couples, and entire families as they wrestled with end-of-life decisions. I have also worked with sick patients in Rwanda, a country torn apart by genocide and affected deeply by the impact of the early AIDS crisis. …