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12 Days of Christmas (2017) – Day 8

 

10th Annual #12DaysofChristmas Giveaways (2017) at karenehman.com.

GRAND PRIZE!!!

One of you WHO COMMENTS ON ALL TWELVE POSTS AND ALSO SHARES ABOUT THE SERIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA will win a grand prize from me, pictured here.

10th Annual #12DaysofChristmas Giveaways (2017) at karenehman.com.

REMEMBER…in order to win the grand prize, you must leave a comment on all 12 posts. You can start with Day One HERE.

OK, let’s get started with an author whose latest book I had the honor of endorsing. The holidays can be hard for those who are grieving. Today’s guest has some ideas for those of you who long to reach out to someone struggling with sorrow this year. Meet our eighth day’s guest, Ashleigh Slater!

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3 Gift Ideas for the Friend Who Is Grieving

Maybe this Christmas, someone close to you grieves a loss. Perhaps it’s the death of a loved one. It might be unemployment, a difficult medical diagnosis, or the end of a relationship.

How can you tangibly love them this Christmas? Here are three gift ideas.

1. Grocery Store Gift Card

Loss makes everyday tasks, such as feeding ourselves and our families, harder. It’s more difficult to find the motivation, and sometimes finances, to go grocery shopping.

Give your friend a gift card to her favorite market. If it also delivers, that’s even better.

Why a gift card instead of shopping for her? I always go cheaper and don’t pick specialty items if someone else is paying. A gift card offers freedom from this concern.

2. Coffee Care Package

Sipping a hot drink on a cold day is often physically and emotionally comforting. I know it has been for me during seasons of loss. Here’s the thing: Although you can’t remove sorrow, you can provide a little bit of “normalcy” in the midst of grief.

Put together a basket of coffee goodies. Be sure to include her favorite blend, and maybe add a new coffee grinder. Pick out a mug that caters to her personal style, and throw in some biscotti or chocolate too.

3. Cozy Slipper Socks and a Fireside Read

After our miscarriage, I constantly wore the socks the hospital gave me. For some reason, they helped soothe me.

Bless your friend with a pair of cozy slipper socks. My current favorites are by Jane and Bleeker, and are available on Amazon.

Also include a hope-filled book from this list of fireside reads. If your friend is a reader, she may find solace in the written words of others.

While there are other gifts you can give a friend who’s grieving, these ideas are a few of my favorites.

Day Eight Giveaway

For the 12 Days of Christmas series, I am giving away one copy of my book, Braving Sorrow Together, and a bag of Thrasher Coffee’s Christmas Blend. It’s roasted in my local area. Last, slipper socks from Jane and Bleeker. I’m confident you’ll love these as much as I do!

10th Annual #12DaysofChristmas Giveaways (2017) at karenehman.com.


Ashleigh Slater is the author of the books, Braving Sorrow Together: The Transformative Power of Faith and Community When Life is Hard and Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage. She loves to combine the power of a good story with practical application to encourage and inspire readers. Learn more at AshleighSlater.com. Also, connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

 

 

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12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Rules

  1. You can comment on all 12 days (once per person) up until midnight Pacific time, Sunday, December 17. All posts are linked on Day One here.
  2. U.S. Addresses only please.
  3. One daily winner will be chosen from each day’s comments and all winners (including Grand Prize) will be announced on Wednesday, December 20.
  4. Share the giveaway with your friends and followers using the share buttons below.
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326 Comments

  1. Wonderful ways tocare for the grieving. One thing a friend gave me was an extremely cozy evening arm blanket when my Mom died I just before Christmas

  2. I use to love getting up real early and making cinnamon rolls – the kids would get up and we would snuggle on the couch and talk with a cup of tea. Waiting for Dad to wake up and give out the presents.

  3. Thank you, Ashleigh! Last Christmastime was bittersweet for my family as we had just been faced with some unpredictable, scary and unwanted things. What got us through was the love and caring of our church family and friends. Texts of encouragement & prayer, visits by friends to pray with us, grocery store and restaurant gift cards, home-cooked meals delivered to our door, and so much more. God has blessed us with many wonderful friends and family members and He has answered so many prayers along the way. I hope that I am able to bless others when they need it most as my family and I were so blessed a year ago. God is so good!

  4. What a thoughtful idea. Those are very nice gifts to make the people that are grieving feel loved and not forgotten. I lost my son 7 years ago and my mom 11 months ago. Even though I know they are in a better place with the Lord I really miss them. I would love to have your book as a gift. Thank you for sharing.

  5. Could have definitely used this myself after the passing of my mom 2 years ago. I think maybe more the idea of the person making the delivery then the delivery itself

  6. I have a friend whose husband fell dead last week. He was 37. She’s will now raise their young children on her own. If I won this, I would gift it to her. I know she would enjoy the book. You can never go wrong with comfy socks either!

  7. Appreciate these simple suggestions for tangible love gifts! Know several who are grieving this season, from job loss to spouse or child.

  8. Our church started having GriefShare meetings. I’ve heard they are very helpful for those that are grieving.

    And I agree that sometimes gift cards for grocery stores are best for grieving families. My now husband lost his father 20 years ago just days before Thanksgiving. He and his mom were given so much food and so many hams and turkeys they could not eat it all. People give gifts of food when the immediate loss happens, so sometimes a gift card to get food later when all the brought over food is gone is a wonderful idea.

  9. Thank you for sharing! We hurt with those who hurt, and go clueless with how else we can bless them in this time of need.

  10. Thanks for sharing!
    I have a neibohor that lost her husband last month. I love the ideas and would love to share some of these suggestions.

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