A meaningful way of showing someone care and value is gifting. To make your friends and loved ones who have recently experienced a tragedy, health issue, or loss, gifting them can be a most meaningful and special way to make them feel loved, cared and served during their difficult times. Sympathy gifts convey a powerful message to the recipient that you stand with them in difficult times and feel their pain. According to a study, 85% of consumers send followers as sympathy gifts. Although flowers make a good sympathy gift, these are not the only gifts you can give those in critical situations or grief.
This blog post discusses the appropriate gifts to show sympathy and the etiquette of giving gifts during a difficult time in someone’s life.
When are sympathy gifts appropriate?
Every person goes through some unexpected and gloomy events at a time in their life that impact their mental and physical health. At that moment, the person needs more attention and love from others to compensate for the grief and suffering. That’s the best time to reach out to that person and give them mental support. Your phone call, text message, sympathy card, or handmade dish can sometimes be enough to consolidate them, but putting in extra effort and giving something meaningful. Healing will get you a corner in the sufferer's heart. You will always be remembered and praised by that person even later in their life. This is because small acts of kindness and love at the right time will get you a special space in your heart for a lifetime.
The appropriate time to offer them sympathy gifts and help could be:
Immediately After the Loss:
A help or gift given immediately after a loss shows your love and care and eases the receiver to some extent from the pain. The gift in such a situation can be a comforting meal, flowers, or a heartfelt card. It's important to offer emotional support and be present during this shock period because it helps the sufferer feel less alone.
During the Funeral or Memorial Service
During a memorial service or a funeral, a valuable gift such as a charitable donation in the name of the one who died or a memorial keepsake can be meaningful. You can also reduce their stress during this challenging time by providing practical support such as meals, or transportation or helping them with arrangements.
In the Weeks Following the Funeral:
Send a care package in the weeks following the funeral by just spending time together, or helping them with household chores can be beneficial. Continue to offer support and help for their comfort because when the help fades, the grief further escalates.
Anniversary of the Death:
Sending a small gift, flowers, or a card on every death anniversary can show that you think of them. Honor the memory of a dead soul by sharing a story or memory about them in a meaningful gesture.
During Illness:
It can be helpful to provide transportation to clinics or medical appointments, prepare meals, or run errands during illness, as a practical support. A puzzle, a book, or a cozy blanket can provide the sick person with some distraction or comfort. It is also important to provide emotional support through regular visits.
Milestones and Holidays:
After a loss, the holidays and milestones can be significantly challenging. Spending time with them, giving them a meaningful gift, or helping them with holiday preparations can ease their sufferings and reduce work and preparation stress on a special occasion. Offering physical presence and understanding their emotions can provide the support and comfort they need.
After a Pet’s Death:
It can provide comfort to the owner of the pet if you offer a memorial gift such as a custom pet portrait, a photo frame, or a sympathy card, after the pet’s death, or even just sharing and listening to the memories. When you offer support and acknowledge that the pet’s death is felt deeply can also help in the healing process.
Job Loss or Retirement:
It can be valuable to offer practical help such as networking opportunities or help to find a job for someone who recently lost a job or retired. During this changing period, a gift of a book on the transition of a career, a meaningful engagement note, or a journal can show your care and support.
Divorce or Separation:
It can be very advantageous to offer moral and emotional support and practical help, such as helping with childcare and moving during a separation or divorce.
Sympathy Gifts Ideas depending on the Relationship:
Choosing the right sympathy gift depends on your relationship with the recipient. Casket flowers, standing crosses, and funeral standing wreaths are ideal if the recipient is a close relative or a family member. You can go for more personalization by selecting the items that resonate with the recipient and honoring them.
If the family or the person is not well-recognized to you, you must stick with gift baskets or flowers. Coworkers and colleagues prefer to buy a group gift that provides the recipient with moral support and strength. The sufferer’s family will experience temporary relief from the hassle of cooking with their grief if you bring them some food.
Other meaningful and unique Sympathy Gifts might be:
Are you thinking of going above and beyond traditional sympathy gifts? We’ve listed some one-of-a-kind and creative gifts that will show your friend or loved one that you’ve given much thought to the kind gesture:
- Custom Memorial Candle
- Sympathy Tree Popup
- Donation in their name
- Take a meal service
- Memory Book
- Personalized Figurines
- Self-care basket
- Sympathy bakery basket
- Handwritten Letter
- Sympathy wind chimes
Is giving money customary and proper? While cash or cheque may seem like a more effortless gift, it is considered the most valuable and dynamic. A gift of cash is considerable for the recipient and allows them to decide where it should be spent. Funeral expenses put a toll on the family, particularly when the person who died was the family’s primary earner. Any amount would be of great help.