Answer

Religion does not allow Christians the liberty of calling the death of their dear relations a loss of them. They are not lost but sent on before you. And it is a shameful thing for a Christian to be reproved for such an unbecoming expression by a pagan. It is enough to make us blush to read what Epictetus said in this case: Never say you have lost anything, but that it is returned. Is your son dead? He is only restored. Is your inheritance taken from you? It is also returned. And he adds: Let everything be as God wills it.