Condolences as a word have their roots in the Latin language. Condolences come from the words ‘con’ which means with and ‘dolore’ which means grief. Condolences are an act of sympathy which is expressed to people who have felt pain, especially arising from death.
Since time immemorial, humans have expressed sympathy for the bereaved. Sending a funeral wreath to someone shows support and unity in grief. There are numerous methods of sending condolences.
Offering condolences has always been overlooked. However, heartfelt condolences have a lot of advantages. Discussed below, are some of the advantages of sending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved.
Shows Unity with the Griever
The pain of losing a loved one is horrendous. Imagine losing a person you loved a lot or losing a person who played an integral part in your life. That person might be your parent, friend, or even a spouse.
Dealing with such pain by yourself is a hard task by itself. Hence, it is paramount that you send your sincere condolences to the bereaved. It shows that you care and are feeling the same pain they are feeling.
Remember, while sending condolences, you hold the power of encouragement in your words. The words you choose during this occasion will shape the future of your relationship with the grieving party. You must express your feelings directly from your heart.
While sending your condolences, you should give more attention to the bereaved. The conversation should not be centered on yourself. Saying words such as “inform me once you need something” sounds scripted and not heartfelt.
Helps the Bereaved to Come to Terms with the Loss
As mentioned earlier, dealing with the pain of loss by yourself is a daunting task. That is why the community comes together to offer support to the grieving family. In western countries, funerals are a private and family affair.
However, this is not the case when it comes to African countries. Since time immemorial, several funerals are often large and have even taken weeks of mourning. Note, this does not mean that western people do not support their grieving parties.
Sending heartfelt condolences helps the bereaved to come to terms with their loss. There are many testimonies of how grieves felt comforted and loved after they lost their loved ones. Others expressed how they felt even more loved despite losing their loved ones.
Coming to terms with loss is a huge burden to the grieving parties, especially if the deceased was the unifying factor of the family. However, sending a funeral wreath with properly placed words can help the family deal with this loss.
Conclusion
Death or loss comes as a huge blow to everyone. It is regarded as cruel and strikes at the least convenient time. Reaching out to the bereaved family should be dictated by your closeness to the bereaved or the dead person. If you are close to the family, it is important to reach out immediately. In addition, you should not only reach out during the mourning period.
Remember, the loss of a loved one is felt after the funeral. In case you are wondering why it is important to send your heartfelt condolences, this article will explain better.