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How to Write a Sympathy Card. Sympathy is a delicate matter and must be handled with
sensitivity and restraint. Learn to write a card to the grieving conveys respect and
extends loving support. You will need Acknowledgment Sensitivity Sincerity Humor and encouragement.
Step 1. Acknowledge the person's loss and express sympathy and condolences. Draw from
personal experience, keep the card short, and write simple sentences. Step 2. Avoid
platitudes in the letter -- judgmental observations or religious commentary are not appropriate.
Also, avoid suggesting what the person "should" feel. Don't get into graphic depictions of
the event or a recitation of your own reaction upon hearing the news. Step 3. Make a heartfelt
offer in the message to help in any way you can, but leave the details up to them. Step
4. Resist the temptation to say "I know how you feel." Be sincere about your feelings
without rambling. Step 5. Use humor, but be careful. Under certain circumstances, light
humor can ease pain, but be certain you're not misunderstood. Step 6. Close with an honest
encouragement to heal, and reassurance of your continued love and support. Did you know
Americans buy nearly 7 billion greeting cards each year -- almost $7.5 billion in retail
sales.