5 Sympathy Gift Ideas To Show Your Support

Helping a friend go through a tough situation is never easy. Not only can it drain you emotionally, but it can be a physically exhausting experience, as well. If you're helping a friend or loved one go through a difficult problem, be it the loss of a parent or the dissolution of a marriage, it is important to stay strong and offer your support, encouragement and sympathy to your friend. Even if you aren't sure what to verbally say to your friend, there are a number of ways you can make her feel good again. A thoughtful sympathy gift goes a long way in showing someone how much you care.

A gift certificate

Sound simplistic? Your friend will probably get a lot of cards and a lot of flowers during this time, but a gift certificate is something she can use whenever she wants. Opt for a restaurant gift card you can use with her or maybe even a gift card to a favorite store. Just make sure the certificate you pick suits your friend's personality, likes and wants.

House cleaning

Chances are that your friend is exhausted. Why not help her out with some house cleaning? Either stop by and clean the house for her or hire someone to give her a few hours of cleaning. Note that while most friends will be incredibly excited to have someone help them out, others might be nervous about hiring someone to help them with housework so offer to stay while the cleaner is there.

Laundry

Laundry is another big challenge when you're grieving, so consider doing your friend's laundry for her. Instead of sticking around to do laundry at her house, pack up everything and take it to a laundry mat. Wash all of the clothes, fold them and bring them back to your friend. Taking care of a simple task such as laundry goes a long way in showing how much you care.

A favorite book

If your friend is a reader, a favorite book may be just what she needs. Consider picking up a rare, vintage or first edition copy of your friend's favorite story and give it to her to help cheer her up during this trial.

Comfort items

There's no substitute for comfort items, especially when you're grieving. Skip the pre-made gift baskets and instead create a completely personalized gift basket for your friend. Purchase a colorful box or basket and fill it with candies, chocolates, movies, popcorn and even makeup or hair supplies. Include anything that you think will help your friend start feeling back to normal and that will, most of all, make her feel loved and important.

If you know your friend is going through a hard time be sure to check in on them even if they say they want to be alone it's helpful for them to know that they have someone is is there and willing to help if they need it. Call, text, email, or even pay them a quick visit, they will be happy you did in the long run.

Written by Joanna Robertson. Joanna is a wife and mother of two. She's very family oriented, loves receiving flower deliveries from her husband, spending time with her children, and writing about personal topics in her spare time.