Knowing how to be supportive when someone close to you has cancer doesn't just come naturally to most people. Here's some ideas and resources that can make a big difference. Offering Support to Someone With Cancer It's completely natural to want to distance yourself from someone when they are going through something difficult. This is the most common response. Cancer … [Read more...] about How to be Supportive When Someone Close to You Has Cancer
Supporting Grief
3 Types of Messages to Avoid When Talking with a Woman Who Has Had a Miscarriage
This article will show you not only what to avoid when talking with a woman who has had a miscarriage, but it will also show you the one type of message that is helpful. I began thinking about how to express sympathy for miscarriage several years ago when my friend miscarried. We were pregnant around the same time and when she miscarried I felt guilty. I wasn't sure how to … [Read more...] about 3 Types of Messages to Avoid When Talking with a Woman Who Has Had a Miscarriage
Providing Creative Space
Guest post by Janelle Shantz Hertzler (author of Seasons of Solace) After my husband was killed by a drunk driver, several of my aunts provided time, supplies, and expertise in the area of scrapbooking. Now that I am five years beyond my husband's death and have worked on graduate studies in the area of trauma healing, I know that finding creative outlets for painful … [Read more...] about Providing Creative Space
Simple Ways of Comforting the Bereaved
Comforting the bereaved can seem overwhelming, however it really is possible. Instead of trying to cheer up a grieving friend, focus on being supportive and helpful. Part of being supportive is understanding grief. Another great way to be supportive is to be a great empathetic listener. These two things can do so much to comfort a hurting loved one. When it comes to … [Read more...] about Simple Ways of Comforting the Bereaved
How to Write a Sympathy Note
If you need to write a sympathy note, here is the perfect thing to help you out. A hand-written sympathy note is a wonderful expression of sympathy. It really is not difficult to do. I can walk you through it. A sympathy note only needs to be about 5-10 sentences long. Sympathy notes tend to be a bit longer than messages written in a sympathy card, but not as long as a sympathy … [Read more...] about How to Write a Sympathy Note