Stay for the Cup of Coffee: How to Support Others in Grief

When someone we care about experiences a major life loss, for many of us it’ s instinctive to want to help. After all, we feel awful about what happened as well as what our friend or family member must be going through. So, we write a note, send flowers, or drop off a casserole. These are all kind, helpful gestures, but what then? The grief journey takes a long time, and early on, most grievers are left to their own devices, lonely and struggling. How do we continue to effectively support our grieving loved ones in the coming weeks, months, and even years? This little book will help you understand how to really be there for grieving people. It will explain the basic principles of human presence and empathy and give you guidelines for reaching out to and spending time with those in grief. The beautiful thing is this: All you have to do is stay for the cup of coffee. You don’ t need to supply answers or give advice. You don’ t have to have special training or skills. All you need to do is be aware of simple concepts like hospitality and holding space. When you are genuine and present at regular intervals, grieving people can themselves be genuine in the presence of a caring lis