Grief Gifts
When friends and family experience loss, you likely want to do whatever you can to ease their pain. Sympathy gifts show your loved ones that you care and hold them in your thoughts. Choosing the right sympathy gift might take some reflecting to ensure that you choose something both meaningful and appropriate for the situation. You might turn to commercial outlets for the right gift, though handmade gifts may be just as appreciated.
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Jewelry
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Many people opt to give grieving loved ones commemorative jewelry for the occasion. There are different styles of memorial jewelry. Commonly, they feature inspirational quotes meant to boost morale regarding loss. Jewelry like necklaces, rings or bracelets come in varieties that mark the loss of mothers, grandmothers, spouses or children. Some commemorative jewelry can be purchased that is designed specifically for an individual. These can feature things like special dates or quotes unique to that item.
Charity and Memorials
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In some instances, you may want to make a charitable donation in memory of the deceased in your loved one's name. For instance, donating to a specific cause supporting the cause of death may help with grieving and help contribute toward a cure or prevention. You may also consider adopting an animal in the name of your loved one or the deceased. Many zoos allow for a kind of adoption of the animals as a commemorative gift. Another option would be to purchase a star in the deceased's name, giving your loved one something cosmic to hold on to. Some people opt to plant trees or flowers in the deceased's memory.
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Food-Related
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Food often acts as a comforting agent for people in times of sadness. Gift companies often specialize in bereavement baskets, containing various food items as consolation. Comfort foods such as soups or tea might be much appreciated during this time. Baked goods might also offer some comfort for those grieving, either baked on your own or purchased from a bakery. Additionally, giving food gifts helps ease some of the responsibility of cooking for the bereaved during a difficult time in which cooking might not be at the forefront of their minds.
Crafts
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Using cash to buy a gift isn't the only way to show loved ones that you care and are sympathetic to their loss. Homemade crafts convey the care and thoughtfulness you put into creating a gift that's special just for them. With handmade gifts, play to your talents for the best gift possible. Consider sewing a commemorative blanket or quilt, for example. Those with film or photography talents could create memorial DVDs or photo collages to keep the person's memory alive. Painters could paint a portrait of the deceased, or paint a scene of a particularly meaningful moment shared between the deceased and those left behind.
Services
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When a loss hits a family, often times simple everyday tasks become unimportant. To show your love and support, gift your loved one with services to help with these tasks and take some of the load off of an already troubling time. For instance, you might hire a maid service for a period of time to handle household cleaning. Other options include paying for a personal cook for a time or finding baby-sitting services. Alternately, you might offer to complete these tasks yourself as a gift to your loved one. You might offer to come by weekly to clean and prepare meals to freeze for the week so that the bereaved can focus on other things.
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References
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