When Someone Is Mourning

When I was in mourning, people wanted to help but didn’t know what to do or say. Through this experience, as well as my Stephen Ministry training, I have learned what is most comforting when someone is mourning. Listening to someone talk without any correction, judgment, unsolicited advice, or platitudes is essential. Simply affirming people’s feelings with “This is hard” is often enough. Practical help is wonderful too. I remember gifts, lunches, and day trips with friends that lifted the heavy load of grief off my shoulders for a while. Probably the most comforting thing people offered me was prayer. When I faced challenging days and situations, I always knew people were praying for me. Their prayers helped me feel less alone in my grief. All these demonstrations were signs of God’s grace in my mourning.