How long will the pain last?

All the rest of your life. But the thing to remember is that not only the pain will last but the blessed memories as well. Tears are proof of life. The more love, the more tears. If this be true then how could we ever ask that the pain cease altogether. For then the memory of love would go with it. The pain of grief is the price we pay for love but the reward is relationship, which is what God wants from us and for us most of all.