When There Are No Other Words

There are times of devastating loss that leave us speechless. When I was young I assumed that there were words of wisdom, compassion and comfort that adults relayed to one another in times of profound sadness. As I grew older and experienced unthinkable loss, I realized that there are no formulaic words that convey the right expression of empathy and sympathy. The expressions I most appreciated were those from the heart - often a hug, a touch, a memory or the sincere conveyance that the friend had no idea what to say. When there are no right words, it's just important to let the person you care about know that you care.