Showing Up With Love, From a Distance

One of the reasons I created Grief Gifts was because I needed a way to support a friend who was grieving but I didn’t want to show up unannounced.

I remembered how it felt when I was deep in my own loss. The effort it took to answer the door. The emotional mask I felt I had to wear. The strength I had to summon when I had none.

In that raw, exhausted state, even well-meaning gestures can feel overwhelming. I didn’t want to add to someone’s weight I wanted to lighten it, gently.

So I created Grief Gifts as a way to offer comfort without intrusion. A way to show up with love, without physically showing up. A way to say “I’m thinking of you” that doesn’t ask anything in return.

Recently, I hand-delivered a gift box to someone’s home. Outside their front door were flowers, already delivered. I looked up and on the door there was a note taped requesting privacy.

That moment stayed with me. It was quiet, respectful, and powerful. A reminder of why this work matters. A reminder that sometimes the kindest thing we can do is to send love softly, silently without expectation.

We often think we need to do something big to show we care. But sometimes, the best support is simple, thoughtful, and unobtrusive.

I also believe we need to get better at saying what we need when we’re grieving.

Grief doesn’t come with a guidebook. People want to help but they don’t always know how.

If we can say, “Please don’t visit, but I’d appreciate your prayers,” or “I need space right now, but I welcome your messages,” we give others a way to show love without crossing our boundaries.

And if you're the one wanting to reach out, but unsure what to do, know that there is a way. You don’t have to show up at the door. You don’t have to find the perfect words.

Sometimes, a small package arriving quietly on the doorstep can carry all the care in the world.

That’s what Grief Gifts is for. A soft way to say, “I’m here. I care. I see you.”

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Looking to support someone in your life who’s grieving? Our carefully curated collection of thoughtful gifts offers a gentle alternative to flowers. Delivered directly to the recipient with your message, each gift is designed to bring comfort, not overwhelm.