How to Help a Grieving Friend Using Their Love Language

THE LOVE LANGUAGES OF SORROW

Some of us need to be embraced and held while we’re weeping. Alternatively some of us need space and to be alone. Some of us need both at different times. It can be hard to figure out how to help someone who is grieving. Their needs will change greatly as their grief hits them in different waves. It can also be difficult to know how to help because they may not even know what they need from you, let alone have the capacity to communicate their needs. 

Almost everything about our personalities, needs, routines, and desires change when we are in a season of sorrow. Our love languages may even change too when we are grieving. However, finding out their love language preferences may be a good starting place to help your grieving friend. It may be as simple as asking what might mean the most to your friend right now. 

Quality Time

Sometimes, we need a friend to just sit with us. We don’t need them to pretend to be a counselor or even a comforter, instead we need the ministry of their presence, to know we are not alone. Some people may need a good diversion of putt putt golf or a movie. They may not want to talk about the loss at all. Others may need a cup of tea and a listening ear. Just ask them what they need ahead of time (to talk about it or not), and then honor that request. 

You can also bless them by giving them the opportunity to have quality time alone. Consider offering to babysit or, if you don’t live locally, send a note with money for a babysitter and instructions to do something for themselves like dinner or a nice hike.

Physical Touch

This used to be my bottom of the bucket, lowest ranked love language. I think I took for granted how much I needed and depended on my husband’s embrace. Without him suddenly, and in the thick of a pandemic, I suddenly needed touch more than ever. The weight of the loss took a toll on my shoulders, my feet, and my back. Grief made everything hurt. A few blessed souls sent me gift cards for massages or pedicures, and I quickly learned that touch was a healing lifeline for me in my grief. 

To support your grieving friend, consider sending a gift card for a massage or a pedicure and be sure to include enough for the tip.

Words of Affirmation 

When we lose someone we love, especially a spouse, we’ve also lost our biggest cheerleader. Every now and then, someone will pause and just encourage me, “Danita, you’re doing a really good job raising your girls through this,” or “I’m amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit in you. You’re a remarkable woman.” These encouragements feel like manna falling from the sky on my deserted heart. They’ve kept me going when I felt like I simply couldn’t.

Stop mid-conversation and tell your friend how much you admire them. Send them a handwritten letter or an encouraging text. Words of affirmation are always welcome in the midst of grief.

Acts of Service 

A fellow widow reached out to me shortly after my husband died. I had never met her and she lived across the country, but she knew what the overwhelm felt like and she had great mercy on me. She helped find someone who could clean my home. The cleaners ended up being followers of Christ who prayed for me and prayed throughout my small, grief-filled apartment. The smell of oranges and the prayers lifted a little bit of the heaviness for me that day—and they ended up becoming dear friends of mine. In those days I also had a friend who came over to fix the plumbing, the car, the sheetrock. I enjoyed my friend’s company, and I was sure grateful for the help. 

If you aren’t close by and can’t help in practical ways yourself, send your friend a gift card or a check for a house cleaning (or two!) or a gift card for an oil change. You won’t believe the huge load that will take off their plate.

Gifts

My prayer team from the previous place we were stationed sent me a big white, fuzzy blanket. They prayed over the blanket before sending it and told me that whenever I wrapped that blanket around me or my girls, to remember that we were covered in prayer. When I couldn’t hug my prayer team, I could hold that blanket and know they loved me. Another time, the team at Joyful Life sent a box with Scripture cards, a magazine, and several comforts—from the other side of the world! That meant the world to me. I sat reading that magazine, feeling seen and not forgotten.

Send some comforting tea, warm fuzzy socks, soothing essential oils, a candle, or a heating pad. Leave a little gift on the front porch or just send it in the mail. Anything that says, “I’m thinking of you. You’re loved. You’re not alone.”

BRAVING HOLY GROUND

While stepping into someone else’s sorrow can feel overwhelming and maybe even scary, I want to encourage you today that the risk is worth it. You will find yourself on holy ground as you usher in comfort to the brokenhearted, one small step at a time.

Who do you know who is grieving and may need support? Drop their first name in the comments and list the one action step you want to take to show them that they are not alone. 

If you are grieving, drop a comment with one way someone stepped into your sorrow that meant a lot to you.