10 Sympathy Messages To Show You're Thinking Of Them

Let’s call a spade a spade - sometimes life hurts and there’s no sugar coating it. Whether it’s grief, illness or just a bit of a spiraling sh*tstorm, life can be tough.

There's nothing you want more in these moments than to wrap up your loved one in a big warm hug and say "This sucks, I'm sorry, I'm here for you." And when a visit isn't possible right away, show them you care and brighten up their space with some beautiful blooms from our new sympathy flower range.

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences in life. When someone you care about is grieving, it's important to reach out and offer your support. A thoughtful sympathy message can let them know that you're thinking of them and that you care.

But sometimes, you put the pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and you don’t even know where to begin. Writer’s block usually happens when we have so much to say and then we just feel overwhelmed with where to start! 

Simple is best if you’re really struggling - saying something is better than saying nothing at all.
Here are 10 sympathy messages to help you show your support. Wherever we say ‘loved one’ it usually feels a lot more personal if you insert their name. 

1. "I am so sorry for your loss." This is a simple but sincere message that expresses your condolences. Or you could say “I’m so sorry for your loss, thinking of you during this time and sending you a big hug. Here for you, always”.
   
   
2. "I'm thinking of you during this difficult time." Or "I'm thinking of you during this difficult time, please know I’m here for you. Would love to go for a walk or just come over and be with you.” This message lets them know that you're aware of their loss and that you're there for them.
   
   
3. "I know how much your loved one meant to you. I'm here for you if you need anything." This message shows that you understand the depth of their loss and that you're willing to help in any way you can. This even goes for pets! When someone is hurting, it’s important to acknowledge how they’re feeling.
   
   
4. "I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. They will be deeply missed."  This can obviously be extended to something that is meaningful to them. For example,“Remember that time when we went fishing and he told us that nature has its way of making us feel so loved”. This message acknowledges the importance of the person who passed away and the impact they had on the lives of others.
   
   
5. "I'm sending you my love and prayers during this difficult time." This message offers spiritual support and comfort.
   
   
6. "I'm here for you if you need to talk."  This message lets the person know that you're available to listen and offer support. This is so important because without those nights around the couch, those long phone calls and those regular check-ins via text message, someone who has just lost someone can be left feeling very alone. Equally, respect them if they just don’t feel like talking, they can always reach out knowing that you’re there when they’re ready.
   
   
7. "I'm thinking of you and your family."This message shows that you're aware of the impact of the loss on the entire family. It’s everyone else around that is also affected by loss too.
   
   
8. "Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help." This message offers practical help and support. It’s just your way of saying, I can bring over a meal, I can be there to walk your dogs or I can take your kids to the park. Usually people will just say “I’m fine” so perhaps detailing what you can do for them would help.
   
   
9. "I'm sending you strength and peace during this difficult time." This message offers hope and comfort. This message isn’t for everyone and very much depends on the person. For example, someone who believes in healing energies may need to hear this.
   
   
10. "I'll never forget your loved one. They were a special person." This message honors the memory of the person who passed away.

When writing a sympathy message, it's important to be sincere and heartfelt. Avoid clichés and platitudes, and focus on expressing your genuine condolences. You can also personalise your message by sharing a memory of the person who passed away or by mentioning something that you know the person grieving will appreciate.

No matter what you say, the most important thing is to let the person know that you're thinking of them and that you care. Your sympathy message can offer comfort and support during a difficult time.

Here are some additional tips for writing a sympathy message:

• Keep it short and to the point.
• Use simple, clear language.
• Proofread your message carefully before sending it

If you're not sure what to say, you can always find inspiration online or in a sympathy card. The most important thing is to reach out and offer your support in whatever way you can.

This also goes for businesses who want to be more thoughtful in how they approach their marketing. 

Making people happy is why LVLY exists so it stands to reason that we’re driven by empathy and compassion in the ways we talk to our customers. In 2021, we launched the Thoughtful Marketing Movement - an initiative designed to put customers first by allowing them to opt-out from potentially sensitive marketing messages around big calendar events like Mothers Day. 

We reached out to brands around Australia to also consider the potentially damaging effects of sending out “Don’t forget mum/dad” style messages to people who may have lost a mother or child.

Pro-actively reaching out to our customers asking them if they’d like to opt-out of marketing breaks all the usual marketing rules, but it feels like the right thing to do – the human thing to do. It’s what our values of ‘being a goodie’ and ‘making someone’s day’ are all about.

Mother’s Day is the time of year where we see the impact of this the most.In the flower and gifting industry, Mother’s Day is the biggest event on the calendar - it’s like the ‘grand finale’. Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate mums, but for those who are grieving their mum, it can be incredibly distressing and isolating. We want to recognise that it’s not a happy time for all and that for many, it is a time of renewed grief and sadness. During this time, we use our forum to be available for those who may not be celebrating this day. 

We reached out to the legends at Motherless Daughters for some useful tips on how to support someone who is grieving their mum. *The following is supplied by Motherless Daughters.

How to support someone who has lost their mum

• Limit social media usage if you find the content to be too triggering. And remember, not everyone’s family is as perfect as they may appear on socials.
  
  
• Do what feels right for you and avoid doing things just to keep others happy.
  
  
• Accept whatever feelings you are experiencing whether it be sadness, jealousy of others, envy, or even guilt for feeling happy, without self judgement or self-criticism. 

• Honour your mum by loving and nurturing yourself and do the things that bring your comfort and joy on the day.
  
  
• Spend time with people who are important to you and can hold the space you need.
  
  
• Buy a Mother’s Day or birthday card and write to her – pop it away in a drawer or burn it. Buy her favourite flowers, eat her favourite food, or create a brand new tradition.
  
  
• Ask family members to share a story or memory in honour of your mum.
  
  
• Remember, difficult milestone days (like Mother's Day and birthdays) will pass. It will be over just as quickly as it came. It can be hard to know what to say to support someone, and we can often fall into the trap of not saying anything which isn’t always helpful! The best thing you can do is acknowledge their mum’s absence and validate their feelings. Acknowledge their mum’s absence and let them know you’re thinking of them
  
  
•  Ask your grieving friend to share a story about their Mum, or share a memory you might have of their mum.
  
  
• Send a text, or call them – this can feel like you're connecting with them during times of intense and renewed feelings of grief and isolation.
  
  
• Let them know they’re not alone.
  
  
• Accept and respect they may not want to socialise or attend in laws/other functions on the day.
  
  
• Let them honour their mum in their own way, without judgment or criticism.
  
  
•  Let them be sad without insisting to be positive or to be strong.
  
  
• Give them permission and acceptance to ‘feel’. 

Just like our sympathy messages, sometimes sending a short text also goes a long way. 

5 text messages you can send to friends who are grieving their mum 

• “Today must be a really difficult and sad for you, I’m here if you need to chat or escape the day for a while.” 
• “Thinking of you today. If you’d like to, I would love to hear about your mum – anything at all. Send me your favourite photo of her, too!” 
• “I am sending you lots of love. I am here to chat or lean on at any time throughout the day.” 
• “I’m free on Sunday at (insert time) if you’d like to go for a walk or grab a coffee?”
• “Hey, just wanted to let you know I’m thinking of you. I know today is a hard day for you and that you’re not alone.

In the flower and gifting business, sometimes it’s not all about birthdays, celebrations and milestones.

Our Nurture Box, in collaboration with Pink Elephants supports women affected by miscarriage and pregnancy loss. 

By raising awareness we challenge the taboo and break the silence, which ensures women feel validated in seeking support when they need it most.

And for the moments when you need to say ‘A LVLY Goodbye’, we’ve also  launched a new funeral flowers range to send beautiful handmade tributes to your loved ones. 

View our full range of sympathy flowers here. Our talented team of florists and packers take extra love and care to hand make all of our gorgeous arrangements, ready for you when you need it.