3 Ways to Console the Grieving Family

Losing a loved one can leave a person depressed and broken. Every second of every day takes quite a lot to get through the pain. But, if there is one thing that can somewhat ease the pain and make it just a little more bearable it’s having a close friend or relative by your side.

Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to react and show support to someone after they lose a loved one. People don’t know what words to say, what kind of things to talk about and they are also confused about whether they should give their friend some alone time to heal or be there with them through everything. There are actually quite a few things you could do and words you can say that can dampen the pain just a little bit. Here are some great examples of how you can console a grieving family:




Be with them

Heartfelt notes, calls and messages may do some good but they are nothing compared to physically being there with the grieving family. This may mean having to sidetrack your own routine and plans but what kind of friend/ relative would you be if you can’t even sacrifice that much.
You can also help the grieving family by helping them with the chores and if there are any children in the family, you could always do something to lighten their moods and help pass time.

Minimize the time the bereaved family has to spend dealing with the funeral service by handling everything other than choosing the coffin and getting headstones for graves. If the funeral has yet to take place, you can also help by dealing with the funeral service. Preparing for funeral in advance will take the stress away from the bereaved family.

Give them a safe space

No one can be the same or go back to normal after losing someone. Grief is something you have to deal with every single day of your life. People learn to handle grief in a better manner over the course of time but, it can take some while.
You can help your friends or family heal by providing them a safe space, a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. Initiate conversation by asking them how they are feeling and let them take control of what they want to talk about.

Here’s what you can say

If you’ve just heard about the death; “I’m so sorry for your loss. S/he was a great person.”, “I don’t know how you are feeling but know that I am here for you.” and “I wish I had the words, just know that I am extremely saddened and that I’ll be standing with you through everything.” Are good examples of what you should say. You can also include funeral poems in your condolence message, as nothing is as deep as expressions captured through a poem.

Never be afraid to talk about the person who has passed away. In fact, talking about their personality and memorable events can actually help. Sometimes, a hug can say everything and show all the love and concern without you having to utter a single word. And often times, there will be nothing to say, don’t be afraid of awkward silence, just be with your loved one.