When to Send Sympathy Cards

Often we grieve for our loved ones that have been lost. Sympathy for those who grieve is a natural human emotion. Sympathy cards make the sender feel better about their feelings of sympathy, and the receiver feels better knowing they are not alone. Especially in cases where a spouse, parent, or only sibling is lost, sympathy cards are very important in the grieving process.

Recently, my grandmother lost her last sibling. She is not terribly old herself, not even seventy, but there was thirteen years between her and her next oldest sibling. Because she is the last in her generation to survive, a sympathy card was especially important to her grieving process. A call of sympathy was equally important, because she felt very lonely. Without the sympathy of her family and friends, she would not have handled the sibling's death nearly as well as she did.

Although sympathy cards are a great way to support our loved ones at the time of death, there are other times when you might send a sympathy card that most people do not think about. Sympathy cards are also good to send people who have gone through any rough time of their lives. Sympathy cards can be sent to those going through a rough divorce or separation. Sympathy cards can also be sent to people going through cancer or other terminal illness.

Some may feel that Get Well cards are more appropriate for those in the hospital. However, family and friends of the person who is terminally ill realize that time is short. Sending a sympathy card to these people supports them in their time of need and lets them know that they are not alone in this trial.

Sympathy cards can also be given to those in the hospital or recently released that have gone through a major accident or surgery. Sympathy can be given to amputee patients to let them know that you support them in their rehabilitation process. Sympathy can also be given to surgery patients who have lost a vital organ or gone through any other type of surgery to let them know that you support them through their recovery process.

There are other times as well that you might send a sympathy card. If someone has an infant or child in serious condition in a hospital, a sympathy card can let them know they are not alone in their concern and worry.

Some sympathy cards are actually humorous. It might seem odd, but there are sympathy cards available that actually make you laugh. These cards are for showing "sympathy" for events such as failing a class, not getting to graduate from a school, flunking a test, getting married, having a baby, getting a job, failing to obtain a promotion, and other "tragic" events that occur in day to day life. These sympathy cards are not designed to so much show support as they are to cheer up the person who has failed to accomplish something, or as a joke as in the case of a marriage or new baby.

No doubt about it, sympathy cards are the best way to show support, love, fun, and cheer to your loved ones in any time of need.