14 Ways To Encourage a Loved One in the Midst of Illness, Treatment or Recovery —Part 1
One of the hardest things in life is seeing someone you love suffering in the midst or aftermath of a serious medical emergency.
There are so many ways to reach out and encourage someone in the midst of a prolonged health crisis—but, of course, the best gifts and gestures are the ones that come from your heart. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Some are more playful or useful and some may require a little bit of elbow grease. It all depends on what you’re up for, and what your loved one will appreciate the most. May you find just what you need to be a blessing during a difficult time.
(We had so many ideas, we’re going to tackle them in two parts!)
1. Take care of household chores and errands
No store bought gift compares to helping out by mowing your loved one’s lawn or running their errands. We all know how the ordinary pressures and demands of domestic life can pile up during a crisis. If your loved one is willing to let you, they will never forget you rolling up your sleeves and tackling the chores they can’t do at the moment.
Other possibilities:
Pet sitting
Collecting the mail
Providing transportation for elderly family to visit
Cleaning the house
That last one is a personal favorite of mine—a cluttered house gives some people the urge to get up and clean when they should be lying down. It’s so much easier to rest in a clean house, with clean sheets on the bed!
2. A pair of cozy socks
Sitting and laying in bed for long periods of time can bring on cold feet, no matter what time of year it is. How about a cute pair of fuzzy socks (or a masculine pair of nice wool socks) to let your friend or family member know you’re thinking about them?
See what your local Target has in stock, or choose from a variety of handmade socks on Etsy. The choices are endless.
One of the hardest things to do in the midst of suffering is keep our eyes focused on God. When we are physically and mentally drained from the ravages of a health struggle, it’s easy to get discouraged and feel out of step with the Lord.
But the Word of God gives us strength. It brings us back to the truth that God loves us, God will never leave or forsake us, and that our life is not only physical but spiritual, too.
Knowing that God is near, even now, is essential to the spiritual health of your loved one. Encouraging scripture cards can be mounted with a ring for them to flip through to brighten their dark moments and be reminded that their help comes from the Lord.
Listening Sheep provides Encouraging Scripture Cards for men and women that are available as instant downloads, can be printed at home, or sent to a professional printer like Staples. Use this code for 20% off LISTENINGSHEEPBLOG
4. An extra long phone or laptop charger
When getting out of bed, standing or otherwise moving is painful or difficult, you understand the magic of a 10-foot iPhone cable! This is an affordable, thoughtful way to make life that much easier for a person confined to bed.
5. A couple of new blankets
Bright, colorful blankets, or throws with interesting textures and patterns, will spruce up any room—and will do wonders to make a stay in the hospital feel less sterile. You can even have them personalized with monogramming, or by choosing blankets with inspirational phrases printed or embroidered on them.
6. A handwritten card
It’s become customary to send a quick, encouraging text message to let someone know we are thinking of them during their recovery. But when it comes to reaching out—and especially when you can’t visit in person—nothing beats the good, old-fashioned, hand-written note.
Maybe it’s the extra time and effort, maybe it’s the personal touch. Either way, there is something about reading a loved one’s thoughts written in their own hand that is particularly comforting and special.
When selecting your card, take care to choose the right message: A get-well note won’t resonate with someone struggling with long-term illness, but you can never go wrong with “Thinking About You.”
If you don’t know what to say, consider including an encouraging bible verse, a personal memory you have in common, pictures of (and drawings by) your kids—and, yes, it is totally fine to talk about things that are going on in your life.
