Sympathy Gifts Guide: Thoughtful Ideas for Difficult Times

When someone you care for has lost a loved one or is going through a challenging time, words alone might not feel like they’re enough to express how much you care. It can be quite difficult to find the right way to show empathy for someone grieving - especially because every person copes in their own way. We often struggle with knowing how little we can do to ease their pain, and the most we can do is be there for them and show them that you’re keeping them in your thoughts.

A gesture like a sympathy gift reminds them that they’re not alone. Grief and hardships are difficult hurdles to overcome, and choosing a gift to make their journey lighter can be a little hard to navigate.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about sympathy gifts - what they are, when to give them, the different kinds of gifts you can provide, and tips on how to write a supportive sympathy card to help you get started.

What Are Sympathy Gifts?

Sympathy gifts are a tangible way of telling your loved one, “I’m thinking of you,” and “I don’t want you to feel like you’re going through this alone.” They’re tokens of condolence that those confronting hardship receive from loved ones, to acknowledge their situation with compassion.

The role of a sympathy gift goes beyond the physical item itself. These gifts act as emotional support in that they make someone feel less isolated - that their feelings are acknowledged. Although sympathy gifts do not fix a situation, they provide small pockets of comfort in the journey through adversity.

When to Give Sympathy Gifts

Grief does not have a set timeline. Each hardship and its individual experience will contribute to determining the ‘right time’ to give a sympathy gift. Here are the main kinds of timeframes that are appropriate to send a sympathy gift for:

Immediate Condolences

Sympathy gifts can be sent shortly after the loss or hospitalization of a loved one or a personal circumstance in which the recipient is struggling to cope. For example, small care packages sent to someone who has been admitted into the hospital and will remain there for a period of time - they’re a practical way of saying “I support you through such a challenging time”.

Long-term Support

Again, grief has no timeline. Sending sympathy gifts weeks, months, or even years after a loss (e.g., on anniversaries) shows your continued consideration and love for them. It’s a thoughtful way of showing empathy for the enduring process that tragedy brings.

Individual Occasions

Like long-term support sympathy gifts, condolences can be sent on the anniversary of a loss, during holiday periods, on relevant national and international days (e.g., International Breast Cancer Awareness Day), or on any other recurring date that recalls a difficult time. A well-timed gift demonstrates thoughtfulness and a deep understanding of their needs, whereas a poorly timed one, regardless of its inherent value, may fall flat or even be perceived as insensitive.

How to Write a Sympathy Card

We give sympathy gifts to offer our condolences to someone when there is very little we can do to fix the situation for them. Expressing your compassion in words accompanying your gift can ensure your sympathy gift carries a more heartfelt impact. Here are some examples of what you can write in a sympathy card, based on the circumstance:

• • For someone in the hospital: “Thinking of you every day as you recover. Wishing you a recovery with strength and comfort.”
• • For someone grieving a loved one: “My deepest condolences for your loss. I know just how special [their loved one’s name] was, so I can only imagine what you’re going through.”
• • For someone recovering from an illness: “Sending much love and encouragement as you heal. You are in my thoughts every day.”
• • For someone going through personal hardship: “Thinking of you as you move through this phase of your life. Please know that I am always here for you when you need it.”
    
    

Unique Sympathy Gift Ideas

For those wanting to go the extra mile, we’ve compiled a short list of unique sympathy gifts that timelessly honor the loss of a beloved.

Outdoor Tree

Gifting someone a living plant is one thing, but a tree that symbolizes the remembrance of somebody who is no longer here are gifts that endure the test of time - which is a stable reminder of strength and healing.

Custom Paintings

Custom paintings are sympathy gifts created for someone who has lost someone. These kinds of gifts are suitable for individual occasions, such as the anniversary of a loved one’s passing. A meaningful example of a custom painting given as a sympathy gift is to have the artist blend images of the person who has passed with a current photo of their family or friends. Blurring the line between nostalgia and a fictional portrait is a touching way to connect someone who is grieving to the person they have lost.

Memorial bench

If you live in an area with a park, you can try to contact your local council to inquire about the possibility of commemorating a bench in honor of the lost loved one. Remember that it will most likely be on the pricier end, but if you can afford a sympathy gift such as this, it’s a timeless token of condolence that will mean the world to your loved one going through a difficult time.