Supporting Grieving Individuals Around The Holidays

The holidays are a time of year when families and friends gather together to celebrate

. However, as many people know who have lost someone they were close to, the holidays can bring about many mixed emotions including overwhelming feelings of missing a loved one. If you know someone who is going through the grieving process, it is important to acknowledge their grief and to provide your support during this time.

Sending a card or stopping by with a gift to offer your emotional support is likely to be a welcome gesture. You will find appropriate sympathy gifts such as Merry Christmas from Heaven ornaments and lockets. Any type of sympathy gift, including a memorial bench, memorial tree, garden memorial, or memorial candle are all beautiful ways to show that you have not forgotten the deceased person and that you are there to offer your continual support.

Even if it has been a year or more since the person passed away, the individuals who were close to that person may struggle through holidays or anniversaries. Let the grieving individual know that they are not alone. You might consider helping them plant a remembrance garden or tree on the deceased persons birthday. Take the person out to during the holidays or spend time with them in their home, and be sure to offer your emotional support.

Remember that everyone moves at their own pace and handles grief in different ways. Be sensitive to the grieving persons needs. You might consider going on a walk with them on an especially difficult holiday so that you can talk about how they are doing.

Some people cope by following the same holiday traditions that theyve always followed. Others cope better by changing holiday traditions. Small changes such as opening gifts on Christmas Eve instead of on Christmas morning and having dinner at another family members home may help. Going away for the holidays offers another comforting solution for some people.

The most important thing to remember is to not ignore the persons sadness. Even if that person is not ready to talk openly about their grief, you can still offer your support with a gift in memory of the deceased individual. If the grieving person is open to talking about their feelings, be there to listen and to lend your support during the holidays. Even small gestures of love and support can make a big difference in that persons life and in their ability to cope.

by: Renee Wood, MSW

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