Comments on: How to Console a Griever

on 4/9/2009 Just for humor, watch the "lettuce" clip on www.hulu.com from Saturday Night Live (SNL) :)

on 10/23/2007 "I know how it is." is what I have said. Why? Because I do know how it is to lose someone. Several times over. I don't know how a person feels. I just know how the situation is. That make sense? It usually does to the person I say it to..

on 10/11/2006 Grief can be BRIEF
http://www.blessyourthoughts.com/truelyblessyourthoughts.htm

on 6/30/2006 Do nice things for them. Take them out for ice cream unexpectedly, or just call to tell them you love them.

on 11/22/2005 The griever can appreciate your sympathy, and it opens the door if he or she wants to talk about the death (or the divorce, or the miscarriage, or the job loss). If you avoid the subject, the griever isn't going to forget the abrupt change that has happened. In fact, your efforts to avoid the subject may be just plain annoying. It's not a good time to share your scientific research on survival statistics for brain tumors, marriages, babies, or jobs. It's never "for the best," and maybe you know the change is God-driven, but leave that to God and the griever to discover together. There is no right way to express grief. Just show your respect and let the griever call the shots.

on 11/22/2005 Don't tell them "I know how you feel" because you don't. Instead say "Talk to me."

on 11/22/2005 Reassure them that what they are feeling is normal. Try to help them to realise this and accept the feeling of the moment as a natural reaction. It also helps to keep busy, no matter what their interests are. Encourage them to expand a present hobby perhaps, or whatever the griever likes.

on 11/22/2005 Take them out to do non-intellectual activities. Go grocery shopping or to a bookstore. Every now and then it's good to help them think about something else. Don't take them to a movie, which might be filled with all kinds of upsetting emotions.

on 11/22/2005 A new web site http://www.americanmemorials.comallows family and friends to express their thoughts and condolences online as well as to permanently preserve anecdotes and historical info about the deceased.