What makes us all the same today?

Tuesday night was the same as a lot of other nights in our house. On our way home from work (my wife and I are blessed because we get to car pool together) we talked about our day and, as always, the conversation turned to supper ideas. I, as I usually do, suggested pizza. She came up with a variety of alternatives, and we agreed on macaroni and cheese with hamburger added to it. After arriving at home, she began supper and I did my typical evening routine.
As supper came to fruition, she noted that we had no vegetable (she is big on veggies). So I headed for the pantry and grabbed a jar of tomatoes, home canned by my Mom.
And as we sit down to eat and watch Jeopardy (pre-recorded) I realized that I was eating the last jar of tomatoes from my Mom. You need to know my Mom died last August. So I kind of got a little sad thinking about that "one more disconnection" with her. I have stopped communication with several members of my family since she died, not my choice, and does it hurt.
What makes us all the same today? Loss. Whether it be a parent, a child, a husband, a wife, a friend, or a beloved pet...loss hurts. The economy is in the dumper, we are all struggling to make it through each day financially, and then we lose someone important to us. The Pana Church has seen a lot of loss in the last year. And we all experience it, maybe a little differently, but it happens. And when something like the last jar of tomatoes comes up, or a birthday, a holiday, the sight of something that reminds us of them, we crave the chance to talk about our loss.
What I love about my church family is that I know I could go to almost anyone and talk, and they would listen. With loss comes the realization that love still remains.
What makes us all the same today?