Writing a sympathy card and sending your deepest condolences to a grieving loved one is a task most people find difficult to complete. Your written words may not take away the pain your loved one is experiencing, but they’ll take comfort in knowing they’re in your thoughts and supported by those near and dear to them. While there are no set rules for what to write in a sympathy card, there are a few ways you can structure a thoughtful, personal message.
5 Tips To Help You Write a Thoughtful Sympathy Card Message
Purchase a Thoughtful Sympathy Card
Finding a fitting sympathy card to share your thoughts and feelings can be challenging. Often pre-written cards don’t reflect your true sentiments as much as the personal message you write inside.
Consider a Gift of Seeds if you’re searching for a special sympathy card to send to a grieving loved one. A Gift of Seeds is a greeting card that contains a packet of seeds inside. Each pack features beautiful hand drawn illustrations on the front and there’s a space on the back to write a personal message. Inside, the recipient will discover a packet of seeds, tear away plant label and sowing instructions.
Forget-Me-Not flowers are deeply symbolic and not only symbolise remembrance associated with love, but for those we’ve lost too. These beautiful, tiny blue garden flowers are easy to grow and will offer a beautiful reminder of a deceased loved one or pet as time passes.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a way to commemorate a loved one’s memory, consider everlasting daisies. These flowers symbolise the enduring nature of a person’s spirit and affection.
The act of caring for living plants, watching them grow and bloom, can symbolize the resilience of life and offer a source of comfort during the grieving process. Gardening also offers a quiet, meditative environment where one can find moments of reflection and solace, helping individuals navigate their grief with a sense of renewal and hope.
Gardening can be a therapeutic and healing activity for those who are grieving. It provides a safe and nurturing space to process emotions, find solace and embrace the cycle of life. Planting and tending to flowers, trees or a garden in memory of a loved one can be a tangible way to honour their memory, fostering a sense of connection.
Personalise Your Message
Before writing a sympathy card message, it’s important to reminisce about how the deceased person or pet impacted their loved ones’ lives. Whether you knew the deceased person or pet well or not, this is a deeply emotional time for you as you navigate your emotions while supporting those of your grieving loved one. While it might be hard working through these emotions, you’ll find yourself reminiscing on fond memories that you can share in your sympathy card.
Perhaps the deceased loved fishing or gardening or was generous and thoughtful. Do you have a special memory of them or shared a unique bond? All these memories and thoughts will help you construct a deeply personal sympathy card message that will also serve as a special reminder of the deceased person for the grieving loved ones to cherish in years to come.
Offer Your Assistance
Offering your assistance to grieving loved ones is a wonderful way to support them during a difficult time in their life. It may relieve a little bit of pressure from their day, which they will truly appreciate. Whether you offer to mind their kids, cook dinner or pick up their groceries, it’s completely acceptable to offer your assistance in a sympathy card, even if they don’t take you up on it.
Avoid Offering Advice
While it can seem helpful to offer advice on how to cope with grief, it’s not suitable to write it in a sympathy card. What worked for you may not work for someone else, as everyone grieves differently. It’s best to avoid offering your advice in your sympathy card. Instead, write thoughtful condolence messages that show you care.
Write Your Message on a Spare Piece of Paper First
You only have one chance to write your message on a card; therefore, it’s best to practice writing it on a spare piece of paper before adding it to the card. This will ensure you’re happy with the message, and you can make any final edits if needed. It’s also a great way to test the space your message needs to ensure it fits in the card.
