Gentle Support for Whatever Comes Next
Grief doesn’t move in a straight line, and it doesn’t end when the service does. Whether you’re in the first difficult days or facing a hard date months from now, this page is here to walk alongside you — with small, gentle steps for wherever you are.
Five Gentle Things to Do in the First Days of Grief
- Drink a full glass of water.
- Step outside and notice the light.
- Say their name aloud.
- Keep one item nearby that brings warmth, not ache.
- Ask someone to share one story you hadn’t heard before.
Grief comes in waves — these five small acts can help you find a little steadiness until the next one passes
Free Tools to Help You Begin
Conversation Starers for Kids About Grief
How to Be There for a Grieving Friend (Even If You Don’t Know What to Say)
5 Stories I Want My Kids to Know About Their Grandfather
Navigating the First Year
The first year brings its own kind of grief — birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and quiet moments that catch you off guard. You don’t have to navigate it alone.
A gentle roadmap for the birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones that make up the first year without them.
What to expect as the months pass, and how grief can resurface in ways you don’t always see coming.
Simple, practical steps for the moment grief catches you off guard.
Support for getting through the holiday season — whether you’re grieving yourself or showing up for someone who is.
Thoughtful gift ideas for supporting someone through the hardest stretch of the year.
Why one honest line a day works better than a blank page — with real prompts and permission to skip a day.
If you’re looking for guidance on what to do with memory table items or keepsakes after the service, the Memory Table Ideas hub can help.
Where to Find Outside Help
Links to grief support organizations, hotlines, and other helpful places
- Modern Loss – Candid, relatable grief support for those navigating life after loss. Articles, community stories, and practical advice with a modern tone. www.modernloss.com
- GriefShare – A nationwide network of in-person and online grief support groups led by trained facilitators. Great for those seeking structured programs with faith-based roots. www.griefshare.org
- What’s Your Grief – A modern, compassionate grief education and support site offering articles, courses, printables, and resources for all types of loss. www.whatsyourgrief.com
- The Dougy Center – The national center for grieving children and families. Excellent for resources specific to kids, teens, and parents coping with loss. www.dougy.org
- Option B – Started by Sheryl Sandberg, this site focuses on building resilience after loss or trauma. Features stories, community support, and actionable tools. www.optionb.org
- National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) – Education, training, and support services for children and teens experiencing grief. Helpful for caregivers, teachers, and professionals. www.childrengrieve.org
If you want the structure already built in
One Small Good Thing is a 365-day guided grief journal — one gentle prompt a day, no pressure to keep a streak. It pairs well with My First Year Without You for the harder parts of the first year, or works completely on its own.
→ Explore the journal One Small Good Thing
If you’re looking for something to hold all of this
My First Year Without You is a monthly grief companion built for exactly this stretch — the year of firsts, the hard dates, and the moments that catch you off guard. It’s undated, so there’s no wrong day to start, and no calendar reminding you of what you missed.