Ten Things to Do to Comfort the Bereaved

Nancy Guthrie recommends 10 things to do to comfort the bereaved:

1. Don’t try to “fix” their grief, but do say something.
2. Don’t tell a story about your own loss, or someone else’s.
3. Be a welcomed companion in grief, regardless of how well you know them.
4. Give them permission to cry.
5. Proactively meet practical needs.
6. Use their loved one’s name in conversation.
7. If you knew the person who died, tell their grieving loved one a story about him/her.
8. If possible, simply show up at the visitation, the funeral, and beyond.
9. Invite them to talk about their grief and their loved one who died.
10. Reach out to the grieving member of your congregation on the anniversary of their loved one’s death.