When someone tells us they’re sick or facing a crisis, our natural tendency is to want to help in some way. We want to say the right thing, be comforting, but all too often words escape us. I suspect we’ve all heard stories about cancer patients saying “please don’t call it a battle”, or of friends shying away because they just don’t know what to do or say.

Emily McDowell was on the receiving end of well-meaning but frequently awkward sentiments when she was treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She turned her talents to creating a line of “empathy” cards to help express the right, sincere thing to say. As she explains in her blog,

“I believe we need some better, more authentic ways to communicate about sickness and suffering. ‘Get well soon’ cards don’t make sense when someone might not. Sympathy cards can make people feel like you think they’re already dead.”

 

Next time you want to let someone know you’re thinking of them and the right words are hard to find, an empathy card could be the best way to connect and let them know you’re there for them.

For the full line of empathy cards, visit Emily’s website.