If you’re wondering what would be the ideal sympathy message to write on your sympathy card, then the tips below could certainly help!

Whether you’re writing a message for a friend, relative, colleague, it’s a mighty challenging task because you need to identify the right tone for your message and compliment it with just the right words. Its natural to freeze at a time when you’re expected to comfort someone during a tough time. So here are a few messages that could help ease someone’s mind to a small extent when they are grieving.

FOR LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

You can either stick to a simple and meaningful message or rely on a poem that’s based on the deceased person. The ideas are several, its for you to pick and choose what you feel fits best.

Examples of Short and Medium Sized Simple Messages:

1. I am deeply sorry for your loss
2. Please know that I am very sorry for you loss and as I write this for you, I pray with my heart and soul that you find the strength to go through this.
3. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this tough time of your life.
4. I realize that you have lost a special person and there are no ways or words to make you feel better. But, I am here for you, to support you and lend you a shoulder to cry on if you need.
5. No one will ever be able to replace ———–, but, you can cherish the memories of ——— forever.

Examples of Sincere and Sentimental Messages:

1. Words will never be able to describe or ease what you’re feeling right now. But what we can do is remember ———- with the utmost affection and admiration.
2. When I heard the news, I was in a state of shock but eventually realized that ——– will always be in our hearts. I believe that people never leave, they come back to us in a spiritual form to give us the strength to go through life.

Sometimes, if you know a person well enough and if your sympathetic message is meant to console a friend or colleague who has recently lost a pet, then adding an element of humour to the message could help cheer the person up!

For instance, “I’m so sorry to learn about your loss… if you like, you can walk my dog everyday of the week as a reminder!

Another way to write a sympathy card is to stick to general messages. These are safe to use no matter what the occasion and furthermore, they could be used for anyone.

For instance:

1. Please know that my condolences are with you at this terrible time.
2. I am thinking of you and your family during this difficult part of your life and would be honored to help you in anyway I can, please do feel free to ask me for help.

When someone has lost a close relative, like a mother or father or sibling, you must remember to be a lot more sympathetic in your wording. This is simply because, close family ties mean a lot to individuals (remember, blood is thicker than water) but mainly, the loss of a direct relative always plays a bigger impact on the heart and soul of a person.

FOR THE LOSS OF A MOTHER / FATHER

1. I am sorry you lost your mother. I know she loved you and was proud of you and had she been here today, she would want you to know that.
2. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling; I dread thinking of the day when I’ll have to face this. But, everyone’s time comes and what is most important is that you loved her and she loved you. That’s what counts towards the end.
3. I know that you’ll feel lost and lonely knowing that your father has gone. But, remember one thing: he’s always going to protect you from wherever he is. Trust me on this!

When writing a sympathy card, its best to avoid:

• giving advice,
• including other reminders,
• writing cliches
• long stories

Keep it plain, simple and sweet. If its long, the one mourning will never read it. If its about advice, they may want to tear it up and throw it! Remember, the person you’re addressing is grieving and when in pain, you just need a hand to hold or a comforting word now and then.

Besides giving a card or a sympathetic message, another positive way to help a person heal is to constantly check in on the person, help the person get back to daily life. Simple things like taking the bereaved out for coffee can be helpful! Give them the space to vent out their feelings. To talk. To just sit and think is great too.