What do you say when you don't know what to say?

I just read this quote today.

"My daughter, Grace, was not killed by a gun. She died suddenly at age 5 from a virulent form of strep. As I stood stunned in a church at her memorial, one of the hardest things I heard someone say was, 'I'm going to go home and hug my child a little tighter.' 'Well, good for you,' I thought.' 'I'm going to go home and scream.' "                       -- Ann Hood

That's tough isn't it? How many times, I wonder, have I said something that sent shockwaves through someone without meaning to.

Trying to say the right thing always is impossible.

Making everyone happy is impossible.

So what do you say when you don't know what to say?

Nothing. Simple? Not really. It's hard to have nothing to say, because I feel that I'm not being sensitive if I don't have the right words to say to someone, especially if they are really hurting. In my mind, I'm letting them down.

The best advice I ever got was from my husband. He told me, "If you don't know what to do, just don't do anything." That's good advice, and it also works for words. Now I'm not as concerned with not knowing what to do or say -- I just don't do or say anything.

Sometimes the best we can offer someone who is hurting is a hug, our presence, a listening ear, and a silent prayer to God.

Just

          Be

                  There

What do you think? What do you do when you don't know what to do? What do you say when you don't know what to say?

My daughter, Grace, was not killed by a gun. She died suddenly at age 5 from a virulent form of strep. As I stood stunned in a church at her memorial, one of the hardest things I heard someone say was, 'I'm going to go home and hug my child a little tighter.' 'Well, good for you,' I thought. 'I'm going to go home and scream.'

Ann Hood

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/annhood540819.html#LPX8ir4gD7PJxO7R.99

My daughter, Grace, was not killed by a gun. She died suddenly at age 5 from a virulent form of strep. As I stood stunned in a church at her memorial, one of the hardest things I heard someone say was, 'I'm going to go home and hug my child a little tighter.' 'Well, good for you,' I thought. 'I'm going to go home and scream.'

Ann Hood

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/annhood540819.html#LPX8ir4gD7PJxO7R.99