How to Write a Sympathy Card

A timely sympathy card means so much to a friend who is grieving the death of a loved one, but it is hard to sit down and write one.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Card or stationary

1. Sit down with pen in hand. Writing a sympathy card is not as hard as starting to write a sympathy card. It will mean so much to your friend who has suffered the death of a loved one.

2. If the appearance of the card is important try out what you are going to say on scrap paper first. Put lined paper under the card to keep your lines straight.

3. 
    
   Blank card and Printed cards

   If you did not know the deceased well it is best to purchase a sympathy card and write "my condolences on your loss" or "my thoughts and prayers are with you during your time of grief." If you think it will be appreciated add a verse of scripture.

4. If you did know the deceased share a pleasant memory and say he will be missed. If you happen to have a picture of the deceased it would be lovely to include it.

5. Don't worry too much about what to say. It is not what you write that will comfort your friend, but the knowledge that they have a friend who cares enough to write.

Tips & Warnings

• Send a paper card not an email. Cards can be put in a box and looked at as time allows. They often become cherished mementoes. Reading email often seems to be as just another chore especially when things are stressful. The exception to this would be if you are out of the country and snail mail would take a very long time to get there.
• If you haven't seen your friend for a while send him or her a newsy letter or email about a week after the sympathy card. Don't include your news in the actual sympathy card.

[beckylyn]

on 10/20/2008 thanks for writing this ... i seem to be writing a lot of sympathy cards lately and i'm always at a loss. this helps a lot!