Helping Others Survive Grief.

Helping others to survive grief

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.” --Charles Caleb Colton.

What a great saying that gets to the heart of what grievers really need—a good, true friend that provides needed empathy in an unconditional way. Grief has a way of sorting out those who remain “true friends” vs. those who just disappear.


Being a friend to a grieving person is something that needs to be learned and practiced. GRIEVERS ARE DIFFERENT!! Learn to better understand the grieving by understanding that they may need the following:

1. They might need to hear the name of their loved one. –HELP THEM BY REMEMBERING THEIR LOVED ONES!
2. They might need to be able to tell their story and share how they are hurting—LISTEN BETTER!
3. To talk about their grieving experiences to a great listener, not a fixer.

DON’T TRY TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM. LISTEN BETTER!