Finding the right ways to say something to someone who has lost a loved one isn’t always easy. You want to express your sympathy without saying anything too painful or sensitive. Losing a loved one is a painful experience whether or not the death was expected. It can happen to anyone. If you know someone who has recently lost their husband, you might be looking for ways to support and comfort them. One great way to express your condolences is with a card. Knowing what to write in it is the subject of this article.
In this article, we are going to discuss what to write in a sympathy card for loss of husband:
- Why we give sympathy cards
- Finding the right card
- Writing the card
- Other ways to show support after a loss
Why We Give Sympathy Cards
The loss of a loved one can be devastating, especially if it is someone as close as a spouse. There is no quick fix for a broken heart and the season of grieving, loneliness, and often despair that follows. For those on the outside, it can sometimes be a difficult thing to find ways to offer meaningful support to those immediately affected. We cover a few ways you can do that a little later in this article. For now, let’s look at the practice of giving cards.
A card is a tangible way to send wishes and thoughts in any season of life. People have been giving cards for a long time, and there is something about receiving one that touches the heart. Unlike spoken wishes, you can keep and read the card over and over for a long time. There are cards for birthdays, weddings, graduations, births, and Christmas, to name a few. Here we focus on sympathy cards.
When someone is grieving, the most important thing you can say or do is express your condolences. Let them know you are sorry for their loss. The simplest words or sympathy message lets them know that you acknowledge their pain and loss. It brings comfort and some solace in a very dark season of life. Your words of sympathy let the person know that you see their pain and you care. While a sympathy card is just a more tangible way to express condolences, it is a powerful one, nonetheless.
Finding the Right Card
There are a few things you need to think about when giving a sympathy card. When is the right time to give the card, who is it for, what is their relation to the departed, and what should you say in the card? There are sympathy cards available for specific situations such as the loss of a husband or wife, the loss of a parent, or the loss of a friend. Picking a specific idea is a good idea, although a general condolences card is also appropriate.
You can find sympathy cards in many places. Grocery stores, convenience shops, pharmacies, and even online stores all offer a wide selection of sympathy cards. Some of these cards come with messages already printed inside them, while others come plain. For the plain ones, you then must figure out what to say. With the ones that already have a message in them, it’s also thoughtful to include a personal message as well.
Writing the Card
Now, let’s look at the part of actually writing the card. There isn’t one correct answer to the question of what to write in a sympathy card for the loss of a husband. The fact that you decided to express your condolences already means a lot, so you shouldn’t get caught up on having the perfect ways to say. We provide some good suggestions below of simple things that you can say when you write a sympathy card.
- I am sorry for your loss
- I’m thinking of you during this difficult time
- Love and sympathies to you and your family
- Please accept my sincere sympathies
- Our heartfelt condolences
- My thoughts and prayers are with you
- If the person is religious, a religious message can be comforting to them
While considering the right things to say, some words might not be appropriate to say during this time or at all. Avoid saying that you know exactly how they feel. People process grief differently, and every situation is unique, so you might not. Additionally, mentioning that it was their time to go or that the bereaved is going to get over this soon is not very comforting.
Other Ways to Show Support After a Loss
Giving a condolences card is just the start. There are various other ways to show comfort, depending on your relationship to the bereaved and how easy it is for you to access them. If you are in a different city or country from them, you may decide to mail your card to them rather than hand it over. Even if you are far away, there are still ways for you to show that you care, including sending a sympathy gift to be delivered right to their door.
Here are great ways to support a grieving friend or family member:
- Send or give sympathy flowers. This is a very comforting gesture, and you can’t go wrong with funeral flowers. These can be displayed at the funeral home and also at the home of the bereaved.
- Send or give a sympathy gift. Besides condolence flowers, a sympathy gift basket can make an excellent gift. Lasting gifts such as garden stones, ornaments, plaques, and photo frames are also great gives that can be inscribed with a personal message.
- Check up on the bereaved by message, phone call, and in person. They may need someone to talk to or help with errands. If not, it helps to know that they are not alone.
Knowing the right words to say to someone who has just lost their husband isn’t always easy. We have provided you with some suggestions of what to write in a card, as well as some other practical ideas to show your support.
