After the Funeral

When the funeral ends and the world moves on, don't forget about the one who is grieving. It is in this space of the “after” where normal no longer exists, where everything that once was, will never be again.

In this space of suffocating silence and unbearable stillness, grief sneaks in and demands attention. It clings, oppresses, and bears no mercy on the bereaved. It forces them to face the fractured, scattered pieces of their heart.

It is in this fragile space that the realization of their loss renders the bereaved breathless. It is in this delicate space where they need your support the most: someone to walk toward their grief, to acknowledge their loss, to see their pain. Someone to simply sit with them as they reconcile their drastically changed life.

The volume of grief right now is loud and unrelenting. Help them stifle the noise. Help them carry the weight of their sadness. Don’t walk away or turn a blind eye to their grief. Don’t assume they have enough support or that people are showing up for them. Don’t expect that they’ve moved on just because the funeral is over.

They haven’t.

Be the friend who checks on them. Be the friend who stops by with a meal. Be the friend who offers to help around the house. Be the friend who will sit in silent, loving support. Be the friend who is there—no questions asked. Your simple acts of kindness—your check-ins, your gestures of care, your willingness to listen—make a difference.

In the days, weeks, and even months after the funeral, when the world continues to move on, remember this: For those who are grieving, their journey is just beginning. They are navigating a world that feels foreign and distant. Be the steady presence in their life. Be the friend who doesn’t disappear when the crowds do. Your support will be their lifeline.

Photo: Josh Applegate (@joshapplegate) | Unsplash Photo Community