Is someone you love going through something emotionally challenging or tragic? If so, it can be heartbreaking to discover you can’t rearrange your schedule to fly out and comfort them in person. Whether they’ve lost a loved one, been fired from a job, or received a serious health diagnosis, you probably wish you could be there. The good news is that you can send your love from wherever you are with thoughtful sympathy gifts.
Sending heartfelt gifts is a wonderful, heartwarming way to show someone you care about them, even if you can’t physically be there with them. However, not just any gift will do. You want to make sure whatever you send delivers a message of warmth and compassion. Here are five thoughtful ways to send your love to someone when you can’t be there in person.
1. Send Meal Support
When someone is dealing with emotional distress, it’s often hard for them to take care of day-to-day responsibilities. Even small things like cooking a meal can seem overwhelming in challenging times. That’s one reason many people lose weight when they’re dealing with grief or sorrow. You can relieve the stress associated with cooking meals by sending a sympathy care package with ready-to-eat meals.
Soup makes an excellent sympathy gift because it’s warming, soothing, and well-liked by most people. It’s also a classic comfort food that can boost the recipient’s mood and help them feel loved and seen. You could also send gift cards to the recipient’s favorite restaurants in their area. That way, they can choose when they’re ready to go out and enjoy a restaurant-quality meal.
2. Check In By Phone
Calling and talking to someone over the phone is the next best thing to having a conversation with them in person. If you want to show a loved one that you truly care, take the time to call them regularly. Give them the freedom to talk about whatever they feel comfortable discussing. Don’t push them to talk about sensitive matters if they don’t bring difficult subjects up themselves. Instead, let them direct the conversation and set their desired tone for your discussion.
When engaging with someone who’s grieving, it’s wise to practice active listening. This involves validating the other person’s emotions, withholding judgment, and removing all distractions so you can give them your full attention. Commit to listening without giving guidance unless your loved one specifically asks for your advice or feedback. You can ask simple, open-ended questions to help you understand the other person’s point of view better, as well. These techniques can help your loved one feel supported and comforted despite their sorrow.
3. Offer Sympathy Gift Baskets
Sympathy gift baskets make excellent gifts to send from afar because they’re versatile and can be easily customized. You can choose to send baskets with different themes, such as self-care, treats and snacks, entertainment, or comfort foods. There isn’t a “right” or “wrong” type of gift basket to send to someone who’s struggling. Just put some thought into what you think would be most meaningful for the recipient.
One thing to consider when sending gifts to someone you love is timing. Keep in mind that they may get a lot of attention and gifts at first, but those will likely wane with time. You can prolong your love and support by sending the occasional sympathy gift later on, after other gifts have stopped pouring in.
4. Deliver Words of Comfort
Written messages can be particularly meaningful to someone who’s experiencing grief. Unlike verbal words, written messages continue providing comfort long after they’re initially delivered. They can become a reliable source of support that the recipient can read and re-read whenever they need it. Sending kind messages via text can be quick and convenient. However, taking the time to write your message in a card or letter shows you’re willing to go the extra mile to send your love.
If you’re not sure what to say to someone who’s sorrowful, you’re not alone. Many people get stumped when it comes to comforting people in pain. Fortunately, you don’t have to write an elaborate message to show your love. A simple, “I’m sorry you’re suffering,” or “I’m here for you whenever you need me,” can go a long way.
5. Send Personalized Keepsakes
If you’re searching for deep, meaningful sympathy gift ideas, consider sending personalized keepsakes. A well-chosen keepsake can slightly ease the pain of loss and help the one left behind hold onto fond memories. These types of gifts also require significant forethought, which can help the recipient feel even more cherished and loved.
Personalized jewelry, custom engraved boxes, and memorial garden stones or windchimes all make great keepsakes. Other sweet options include personalized books, custom blankets, and shadowboxes full of family memorabilia.
Conclusion
It’s not always possible to be there in person to support a loved one through their grief, especially if you live far away. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t shower them with love and affection from a distance. Use these thoughtful sympathy gift ideas to come up with the perfect way to send your support across the miles that stand between you.