Practical Ways to Help a Friend in Need

What do you do when you hear a dear friend is sick or suffering? Immediately, we want to help, to 'do' something. As we ponder ways we can offer help, perhaps our insecurity, feeling of being unprepared or ill equipped can paralyze us and we end up doing nothing.

We can make a difference in the lives of your loved ones when they need it most when you know how to help.

But often, when we don’t know what to do, or what to say, we make the mistake of doing nothing at all. But it’s during those times that our presence or lack thereof is felt the most.

When a friend is going through a challenging time, our acts of love and presence can bring healing and hope. Check out these 20 meaningful and practical ways to help a friend in need shared by Dr. Michelle Bengston:

Practical suggestions for helping a friend in need

Ask your friend, “How can I most be of help to you today?”
Pick up the phone and call to check in. Just leaving a cheerful voicemail letting her know you are thinking of her helps.
Send a text message asking her how she is.
Offer to call or come over to pray with her.
Bring a meal to the home.
Offer to take her children out after school to keep the house quiet.
Bring a fun comedy movie and snacks over as a diversion.
Send a handwritten note in a cheerful card.
Take a load or two of her laundry back to your place to do, and return clean and neatly folded.
Bring or send a bouquet of beautiful cheerful flowers.
Leave her an uplifting message on social media for her to find that lets her know you remember her and what she likes.
Schedule a coffee date, and if she can’t go out for the coffee, bring the coffee to her.
Take her to the doctor.
Write out and send her a box of encouraging scripture.
Hold her hand or offer a heartfelt hug. The human touch offers tremendous healing properties.
Walk her dog for her.
Clean her house.
Bring her your recent most favorite read.
Supply her with her favorite chocolate.
Sit quietly with her so she isn’t alone.

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