When a loved one passes away, grieving family members may struggle to know what to do with all of the emotions they are feeling and how to navigate life without their loved ones. It can be especially difficult when it’s difficult to be around family and friends who do not seem to know how to handle this situation. To help you find the right gift or gesture for someone who is grieving, we have compiled a list of some useful gifts and ideas that will help anyone in this situation feel special and supported during this time of loss.
Handwritten Cards
A handwritten card is a kind gesture that you can deliver as soon as you hear about your friend’s loss. Write your personal note on nice stationery and be sure to include a gift card or small check to help with funeral costs. A few lines of genuine empathy and sympathy are always better than generic condolences. If it’s too hard for you to handwrite, type out a touching note and print it on cute paper instead—it will still mean a lot to your friend or family member.
Handmade Gifts
When someone is grieving, it’s hard to know what to say or do. If your friend is mourning a loss in their life you might not know how to approach them. A thoughtful gift can help bridge that gap in conversation and maybe bring some joy into an otherwise difficult situation. Gifts for mourning can be anything from a year in review scrapbook to a handmade candle with pictures of loved ones. This type of gift shows thoughtfulness rather than expected gifts such as flowers —the kind of gifts you’d give someone without thinking about it. If you need some more ideas, here are the 15 best sympathy gifts for those who are mourning.
Cheerful Gestures
The loss of life can also be stressful for many people, but especially for grieving friends or family members. They may not feel festive, and thinking about any sort of gift might seem overwhelming. If you know someone who is grieving, it’s important to ask them what they need before sending gestures or gifts. Encourage your friend to tell you if they need help with errands like picking up gifts for children during their lunch break; they may find it easier to accept gestures of help rather than presents for themselves. Also, keep in mind that your friend may not want to attend events or spend time with extended family—that’s okay! Listen carefully when your friend speaks about how they are feeling and respect their needs rather than trying to change them.
Reaching Out
Mourning can be difficult. You want to show your support for a grieving friend, but you don’t know what to do or say. It’s a hard time for everyone, so try avoiding gift-giving and instead focus on doing things to help with the grieving process. When your grieving friend is ready to celebrate, honor their wishes by accepting an invitation, sending cards, or attending memorial events. Even if it feels like celebrating may make you uncomfortable or too sad, honoring their wishes shows that you care about them.
There are many ways to show your friendship and love during a time of loss, but it’s not always easy to find the right gesture or words. You can learn more about your friend by listening more than talking. Take into consideration if they are part of any religion. The way they mourn can have a lot to do with the way they see grief. For example, these Christus statues give members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comfort that their loved one is in a better place, while Shiva for Jews welcomes members of their community to grieve with them. Gifts in the form of meals are a tradition, as well as other spiritual and emotional needs.
Remind yourself that you may never fully understand what they’re going through, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be supportive.