What Will You Do When You Lose A Loved One To Death?

How many times have you tried to imagine what life would be like without a significant person in your life?  We all do it. We think about how we will react and what we might do to carry on. When you lose a friend or family member you can spiral into the grieving cycle. An unexpected death in the family can be a devastating tragedy.  What can you do to prepare yourself?

If your loved one endured a long illness,  you can prepare to some extent. But, it can be painful and heartbreaking, even if you think you are prepared.  How can you possibly prepare yourself for that kind of loss? Where can you turn?

Many people turn to their faith to get them through a tough time. Your church or place of worship can offer sympathy in a variety of ways. If you are plugged in to a church that has programs that support loss, they can offer relief from tragic moments in life. Some churches offer services such as sympathy gift baskets filled with books and food for the hurting. Some offer counseling, others offer meal delivery. All can help you through a rough patch in life.

The emotions can be intensified if you suddenly lose someone in an accident or some other tragic event when you never even had the chance to say goodbye. You can go into shock and not know where to turn. You also have so many things to do during this time of grieving.  You must prepare for the wake or memorial service and the funeral, along with getting the word out to friends and relatives. You need someone in your life that can help you take care of everything. Someone willing to show sympathy like giving you sympathy gifts that can help ease the hole in your heart.

Sometimes after the funeral or memorial service is when you need the most support. Many people will send sympathy cards and gifts. Some people will send angels to watch over you or memorial gifts like garden stones or a personalized frame. All of these ideas can help the hurting person deal with the grief of losing a loved one.

When you receive gifts or gourmet gift baskets, you need to remember to send a thank you card or note.

Thanking everyone who helped you through a tough time is appreciated by many people. It also gives you a chance to touch base with people who love you. Don't forget your church or place of worship, your friends and those who have brought meals or food to you. When my mother in law passed away. The family sorted through all the gifts and cards and we made a list of all the people who needed a thank you. We then divided the list by all the kids and we all were able to write some thank you cards. When you divide them up, you can write more from your heart because you have less cards to write. The cards are meaningful to the people who gave the gifts and who attended the services.