And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning - and is refreshed.
- Kahlil Gibran |
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| Greetings!
When hearing that a friend has cancer, has been in a serious automobile accident, or has had complications from a simple surgery, we feel overwhelmed, and we often feel like we need to move mountains to help. We often feel so helpless. It is in times like that that little things mean a lot.
If you are the "3AM friend" - the one who is in the very closest inner circle of the person going through a life-changing event, you probably are doing a lot of 'big' things. But for everyone else, doing little things will mean far more than you can ever imagine. After all, when a lot of people do little things, those all add up to an amazing amount of help.
Here are ten things that are easy to do, cost very little money, and don't take much time.
- Mail a gift card for a restaurant that has carry-out or curbside pick-up.
- Tell your friend you'll be stopping by on Saturday afternoon with your toolbox, ready to do all those little odd jobs like replacing burned out light bulbs, fixing a leaky faucet, changing the furnace filter.
- Offer to take children to a movie and then back to your house for dinner.
- Invite the spouse out for an evening.
- Call to say you are running errands to specific stores and ask what you can pick up for your friend.
- When you visit your friend in the hospital take wrapped candies in a pretty basket - for your friend to treat the nurses when they come into the room.
- Deliver a loaf of warm bread.
- When you visit your friend take along a treat for the dog and offer to take the dog for a nice long walk.
- Offer to return all the dishes to friends who have brought meals.
- Find that photo you've been meaning to send to your friend - send it in a card with a note remembering a happy event.
Most importantly, stay in touch. Even if your friend is not able - for whatever reason - to return your calls, acknowledge your notes or stay awake when you visit, your friendship matters. Staying in touch is the most precious gift you can give to your friend and to your friend's family. It may seem trivial to you, but it is those little things that mean a lot. |
A Fun Surprise
Whatever situation your friend is going through right now, little surprises are ALWAYS fun! For a friend facing surgery or hospitalization a "care package" can be fun. You can decorate a box or gift bag and include fun things like:
- coins for vending machines or parking meters - packet of tissue - bottle of water - magazine - book of puzzles (include a pen or pencil, too) - candies (Hershey's Hugs & Kisses are so appropriate!) - chewing gum - box of thank you notes (along with stamps) - small note pad - a card that says "I care"  Here's a great gift that we love for a friend who is going through chemotherapy. The BeauBag treatment companion comes equipped with the following: Padfolio, Thermal Snack Pack, Motorized Fan, Lucy Sleep Cap, Milagro Key Chain, Hand Sanitizer and a First Aid Kit. It can even be monogrammed - for FREE! Now that's a great surprise and super easy!
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We might not be able to change the outcome of your situation, but we hope to help change the journey!
WhatFriendsDo.com Staff
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