If you’re like me, you truly don’t know what to do for friends in times of crisis.

Since I’ve been sick, our people have amazed me with creative ways they’ve blessed us, so I thought I’d make a list to share with you.

Here they are, as random as can be…

1. Hanging baskets or small, easy care plants ~When I came home from the hospital, being greeted by colorful hanging plants on my front porch was so welcoming. Welcome home, is easily said with flowers or ferns.

 

2. Cards/letters ~ If a card makes you think of someone, send it to them. Every single card I’ve received has lifted my spirits with the sweetest thoughtfulness, even if it’s simply signed.

 

3. Food ~ My friends organized dinner delivery to us through mealtrain.com. It’s easy to use and rescued us for weeks on end. I don’t have a picture of yummy homemade food, just this stinky picture of why I appreciated it so much…

 

4. Tea~ A friend tucked a box of Twinings Tea in our meal delivery, and it was just the sweetest detail. A warm mug of quality tea is real delicacy to anyone under the weather. My mama would add a piece of burnt toast, but that’s an Irish thing.

 

5. Offer rides ~ People who chart the same waters we do to school and know the way to our hospital offered rides.

6. Toys for Children ~ Sickness/grief can be especially hard on children. Any little something lifts their spirits and reminds them they’re not overlooked.

7. Gift cards for food/gas ~ Traveling to see specialists can get expensive, so gift cards are a great idea.

 

8. Encouraging gifts ~ Stand alone pictures, water thermoses, soft blankets—anything you think would bring a smile, will.

 

9. Anointing oil ~ If you have faith, share it. Always share your faith with those whose might be waning.

 

10. Hand-made quilt ~When every square was selected with you in mind, you can’t help but pass the hours studying each little stitch in awe that someone was thinking of you.

 

11. Prayer blanket ~ There’s a crocheted prayer blanket in my grandmother’s nursing home room. It was made for her by a church ministry that prays over the blankets as they’re being knitted. Such a comfort!

 

12. Box of chemo gifts ~ A friend who’s walked this road with her own mama for years fixed me a box of individual gift baggies filled with candies, Scripture, and tissues for me to hand out at my next chemo treatment. She actually managed to make me look forward to chemo because of her gift!

13. Head coverings ~ Cute hats and scarves are a welcome surprise to cancer patients or anyone who will be too sick too often to wash their hair properly.

 

14. Artisan gifts ~ I received so many lovely, unique gifts that blessed us. One was a hand-made steel cross with the word eucharisteo on it. The souls who made it had done their homework to find out a word that held meaning for me.

Another such gift is an angel made from olive wood from the Holy Land.

 

15. Hugs ~ Just be you. Hug our children when you see them at school. No need to say anything fancy or wise; just give us a hug.

16. Disposable dishes ~ Food delivered in dishes we don’t have to keep up with is grace. Our friends even purchased paper plates/bowls so we didn’t have to wash dishes.

17. Soft lounge clothes—Cute pj’s and oversize t-shirts are great. One friend is part owner in a clothing line known for comfort and she gifted me several items. Such a blessing!

18. House shoes/no-skid socks ~ These are great because we can throw them away at the end of a hospital stay. Old folks used to joke that clean houses were “clean as hospitals.” That’s not a compliment anymore—hospitals are nasty.

19. Canvas bags ~ A canvas tote is a great gift, especially if you have one with a story behind it. My friend gave us one that had accompanied her to many treatments with her mother. The bag had been prayed over by hundreds of women—it was quite the gift!

 

20. Travel toiletries ~ The less thinking a person has to do to get ready for a hospital stay, the better. These items go well in a canvas tote or those irresistible reusable shopping bags at Jo~Ann Fabric.

 

21. Snacks ~ All the snacks. Peanut M&M’s, crackers, juice boxes, water bottles, gum, Chex Mix, animal cookies, etc. Or even quarters for vending machines.

 

22. Bookmarkers ~ This may seem small, until you realize how many books are marked with grocery receipts.

23. Text Messages ~ Never underestimate the power of the jingle. I’ve received some very well-timed encouragements that I went on to re-read later.

24. Musical Medicine ~ My cousin made me a worship cd that’s just good for the soul. Sometimes when you’re too sick or sad to pray, music heals.

 

25. Books/Magazines ~ Pass on your favorite book or an inspiring magazine to chase away the hours.

 

26. Thank-you Cards/Stamps ~ In the South, we send thank-you cards for everything. Gratitude is holy, but it can get expensive.

 

27. Journal ~ A soft journal that opens flat with plenty of writingspace is so lovely. Journals become an inhaler for me in times of crisis as I use them to simply list things and people I’m thankful for.

 

28. Holiday help—Getting Easter baskets, Valentines, birthday gifts, etc. is a huge help if crisis happens during a holiday. It’s so important to us for everything to feel as normal as possible to our children.

29. Lotions—Something that smells good can be the next best thing to a shower. I coveted a bar of soap when I had major surgery. Disinfecting foam…? Really?

 

30. Spouse support ~ One of the most loving things our friends do is take my husband away for lunch or a movie. The caregiver is often overlooked and more fatigued than anyone realizes.

31. Calendar/nice pen ~ There are many obvious uses here, but one is to simply create a diary of what happened when, littered with appointments. It’s something to look back on in an organized way. Chemo patients use these to chart how they’ll feel so they can plan around those days.

32. Rolls of quarters ~ for parking or vending

33. Communion ~ You can have Christmas; give me Easter. My heart was breaking because I was shut-in at Easter, until my friend surprised me by pulling Holy Communion out of her bag right in my living room. It’s one of my all-time favorite gifts.

 

34. Sweets tray ~ In the South we like to have something to offer guests when they visit, and it’s heart-rending not to be prepared. Even if I didn’t have make-up on, having a little tray of goodies to offer brought me endless joy I would’ve missed had my friends not delivered.

35. Milkshakes ~ Because, milkshakes.

36. Lawn Care ~ My father-in-law kept our grass mowed so that’s one less thing my husband had to think about. It was the perfect gift.

37. Lozenges ~ Ginger candies, cinnamon Jolly Ranchers, and peppermints are always a good idea.

 

38. Pill purse ~ Or a pill box. I won’t have to take all these meds forever, but for now, keeping them organized is a task.

39. Essential oils ~ Apparently there’s an oil for everything, and I’ve received some very fine remedies.

 

40. Nausea bands ~ Sea bands are an acupuncture bracelet, and as far as I can tell, they really do help.

 

~

Two are better than one…. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-19