What to Do When You Don't Know What to Say: Helping in Times of Crisis

Rating:
Summary: In our coming or in our going....
Review: People are always glad to see us; sometimes in our coming and sometimes in our going. After reading this book, I reflected on specific times in my life when "I reached out to help someone in need". I shutter at the thought of how my words and actions may have only contributed to another person's pain. This book should be required reading for all of us. If we interact with people in any way, we will have opportunities to encourage their healing or encourage their pain. I want people to be glad to see me coming.

Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as their newest book
Review: When my nephew developed leukemia, I had no idea what to say or to do to help my brother from a half continent away. I wish I had owned this book and Froehlich and Wells' new book, What to Do When You Don't Know What to Say to Your Own Family, at that time.
Both books include helpful, practical, and compassionate ways in which people have helped those going through crises of the death of a loved one, lost jobs, illnesses and abandonment. Taken from the actual words of those who have experienced the aid, the creative and consistent suggestions provide a wellspring of ideas. The authors also include disastrous examples that traumatized the sufferers.
This book is divided into suggestions by crisis. What to Do...about Your Own Family is divided into chapters by relationship. Each chapter is broken down into vignettes describing the crisis and the help received.
These two small books offer an easy, comfortable read with scads of practical ideas for helping family, friends, and even strangers during the rough times. Some of the suggestions helped me reach out to a family in my parents' church who had lost a child. These are good books to keep on hand for reference or to put in a church library.