When family members, friends or neighbours, business colleagues or clients experience the death of someone they cared about, our hearts go out to them. We long to bring some comfort or assistance. “I’d love to help, but I just
don’t know what to say or do!”
Yet we are never sure how to go about it. Should I talk about what has happened, or talk about more pleasant topics? What if I say the wrong thing? What do I do if someone cries or becomes emotional?
It all feels so awkward. Perhaps, you may conclude, it might just be best to leave them alone. Yet this may be the worst thing of all.
Losing someone you care about can be one of the most difficult experiences of life. What compounds the problem is that shortly after the time of the funeral, grieving people often feel abandoned, wondering if people really care. Most do, of course, but out of discomfort with not knowing what to do or say, they often avoid the situation.