Sympathy can be one of the most difficult human feelings to express. It’s hard to know just how to approach someone who is grieving. No matter how well thought out your words may be, often they fall short of the mark and can even cause the bereaved more pain. In most cases, listening and offering a shoulder to lean on can say far more than volumes of words ever could.

But this too can be very hard as listening also means necessarily curbing your own instinctive response and not interjecting your opinion. It means allowing the grieving process to follow its own course and letting your friend or loved one take things at whatever pace they require. It’s at times like this that we can feel torn, wanting to offer support but not wanting to intrude.

Rather than trying to find just the right words or impose your own idea of what the grieving process should entail, why not show your friend how much you care with a specially designed gift? It’s a material way of offering your support and giving encouragement when things may seem to be at their bleakest.

The best part of sending this type of gift is that it doesn’t have to be immediately tied in with the loss. You can send a gift at any time, weeks or even months after the funeral itself. Many people will rush in during the initial stage of bereavement and then fade away again, but the sign of true friendship is reaching out later to let your friend know you’re still there and you still care.

Because while the loss itself can be extremely painful, it’s actually adjusting to life without their loved one that can be the most difficult part of the process. And that’s when an inspirational book or plaque, a stepping stone for the garden or a piece of jewelry etched with a quote about grieving can make all the difference.

Taking the time to choose and send a gift can not only express your sympathy but also remind your friend or loved one that they are not alone. It’s a way of reaching out from the heart and can express what words never could. It’s your way of saying it’s ok to grieve and you can lean on me while you’re doing so if you need to.

It may seem like an insignificant gesture but can be the most powerful expression of all. Because there are no words that can take away the pain and sorrow, but there can be extraordinary comfort in knowing that you don’t have to endure those feelings alone. And it can help to ease that pain by allowing the memory of their deceased loved one to remain alive.

If you’re wrestling with the proper way to communicate your love and support, why not consider a remembrance gift? It’s a beautiful and enduring way of showing your friends and loved ones how much you care and helping them to ease through the grieving process. When words fall short, this simple gesture can speak from the heart.