Reach Out Anyway

Have you ever hesitated to reach out to someone suffering from a devastating loss, such as the death of a parent, a spouse or a child? It’s difficult to know what to say to that kind of debilitating pain. We’ve all heard what we shouldn’t say (at least I hope so), but what can we do? As one who has suffered such loss, I will say this, no matter if it’s hard, reach out anyway. It doesn’t have to be a phone call or a personal visit; it can be a text or an email or even a response on Facebook. But I believe written cards are the best. I didn’t realize the importance of sympathy cards until I lost a son. And, don’t worry if you’re late hearing about the loss. Every day for months I received at least one, usually several sympathy cards from friends and family. Those kind messages of love and support helped lift the burden of grief I was carrying.