Viewing Expressing Sympathy - How to Help Someone Cope with LossExpressing Sympathy - How to Help Someone Cope with Loss
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It is hard to know what to do when a beloved relative or friend passes away. There are many ways for you to express your sympathy and assist the bereaved. This article offers some ideas to help you know how to be of value to someone who is grieving. By Art Gib It is hard to know what to do when a relative or friend passes away. We might feel helpless in knowing the right way to alleviate the survivors' suffering, and so it is tempting do nothing at all: but that is not the right response! Not acknowledging that there has been a loss does more harm than good to the griever; it is actually incredibly consoling to know that there are people who care for and who remember the deceased as well as those left behind. There are many ways for you to express your sympathy: here are some ideas to help you know how to be of value to someone who is grieving. • If you live in the same town, make sure to visit or phone right away. There is a misconception that people want to be left alone in their grieving. While it is true that the bereaved will be busy making funeral arrangements and taking care of the other necessary errands associated with laying a loved one to rest, there will be times when they will want to talk too. Dropping in with a warm loaf of bread and a listening ear may make all the difference. If they do not have time to talk, they will tell you; but if they do, plan on spending a good 15 minutes sitting and listening. Express your condolences right away, and then let them do the talking. There will be time later for you to talk about your memories: what the bereaved need now is a chance to vent and unload whatever is on their minds. • Offer to take on the burdens of everyday living. If the bereaved has young children, she may really appreciate having someone she can depend on to look after them or take over carpool duties for a few days. The bereaved may be a bit embarrassed that family will be coming into town and the house is not prepared to receive them: take over housecleaning duties for your friend and she will be very grateful. • If you live out of town, there are ways to express your sympathy beyond a phone call. Watch for the obituary to appear in the on-line version of the deceased's newspaper. Once it is posted, most newspapers provide an on-line book of condolences where friends and family can post a sympathy note. • A physical sympathy card never goes out of style. Unlike an on-line greeting, a paper card provides plenty of room for you to record your memories of the deceased or express your condolences to those left behind; it can also be kept for years to come. • Send flowers! Bouquets of fragrant and colorful blossoms always boost the spirits of friends and family members and help to decorate a funeral home, sanctuary, and gravesite. Although living green plants are lovely, receiving too many will become a burden since the bereaved has to worry about keeping them alive: stick to low maintenance cut flowers. Do not pass up opportunities to help the bereaved go through the grieving process both during the funeral week and long afterwards. Do not assume that because months have passed, the pain is over. Those who grieve will need a listening ear and will want to talk about memories for years to come. About the Author: If you live in Georgia and need an exquisite sympathy bouquet or flowers for any occasion, contact the best Atlanta flower shop: A Daisy A Day (http://www.adaisyaday.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer. Article Source: Eulogy Site - http://EulogySite.com More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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