There are many ways you can show condolences to a friend or family member who has lost a loved one. However, your way of showing sympathy may turn out differently than what you intended to show. One safe way you can show sympathy is by sending out a card. While this gesture might seem small, it can show the other person that you truly care.
Finding the right sympathy card is one thing, but knowing what to write is another. When writing a sympathy card, it is crucial to be careful with your choice of words. To help you out, here are three ways you can write a well-meaning sympathy card:
Keep it short
If you are unsure of what to write, consider writing a short yet well-meaning message. Doing so will prevent you from writing a possibly offensive, rude, or insensitive message. As the saying goes, “less is more.”
Showing admiration to their late loved one will also help them feel better. It lets them know that their loved one matters and has done great things for other people. Perhaps you can mention their best traits to show how much you appreciate them.
Here are some short, positive phrases to give you an idea:
- Live your life and make them proud
- Where lives end, memories live forever
- She/he will be remembered forever
To personalize your sympathy card, you may choose to attach a photo of you with their late loved one.
Share stories about their late loved one
If you want to let your friend or family member know how much you appreciate their late loved one, share stories of your encounters with them. Whether it is an inspiring or funny story, your story will help them cope better. Perhaps you can write about how you met their loved one or how your last conversation with them went.
After sharing your story, make sure to express your condolences and let them feel that they have someone they can turn to in case they need support.
Offer support and sincerity
Another way you can show your condolences is to let them know that you are willing to support them through this challenging time. As you may know, the loss of a loved one may immobilize or prevent them from continuing their daily life as usual. Offer support by volunteering to do a specific task for them. It doesn’t need to be fancy or grand, just meaningful and thoughtful. For instance, if you live next door, you may offer to walk their pets as they focus on themselves.
Doing so will not only make them feel cared for, but it will also relieve some of their burdens.
Conclusion
Unlike other greeting cards, writing a sympathy card should be made with great care. This is because the words you use may be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate by the reader. If you are unsure of what to write, consider writing a short, sympathetic message. If you want to make it more personal you can either share stories about their late loved one or offer support.
Let them know that you care and you’re thinking of them by sending uplifting greeting cards from our shop. Surely, they will appreciate this well-meaning gesture. Visit our store to find the perfect card to express how you truly feel.