Ann and I often met for lunch together and served on a missions team at church. Now, driving to her house with a casserole and fruit in my insulated bag, I was making a bereavement visit. Her husband Joe had passed the day before.

What do you say and do when you make a grief visit? In the past few years as a widow, God has carried and comforted me with His presence and His Word. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). But He also carried me through supportive friends who sat with me and helped with errands. Conversation wasn’t necessary.

I took a breath, rang the doorbell, and meeting her moist eyes, greeted Ann with a hug. I didn’t need words, I just showed up.