Give Something Thoughtful
The most meaningful gifts aren't always the biggest ones. They're the ones that make her feel known.
During treatment, I received so many thoughtful gifts. Some were practical, some were sentimental, some made me laugh and others reminded me that I was loved and prayed for.
What made them meaningful wasn't how much they cost. It was knowing that someone had thought about me, about what I was going through and about what might bring me a little comfort or encouragement in that moment.
Sometimes giving grace is choosing something that says, “I saw this and thought of you.”
Give her something to hold onto.
A friend gave me this bracelet during treatment. It says “Just Keep Swimming,” a simple reminder to keep going one day at a time.
It was small enough to wear every day, but the message stayed with me. Every time I looked at it, I was reminded that someone who cared about me was cheering me on.
Sometimes giving grace is giving her a little reminder she can carry with her on the hard days.
Think about what might bring her comfort.
A friend sent me a beautiful pair of pajamas during treatment. It was such a simple gift, but at a time when I was spending more time resting and recovering at home, they were something I could actually use and enjoy.
The gift felt thoughtful because it fit the season I was in. It wasn't just something pretty. It was something that made being at home a little more comfortable.
Sometimes giving grace is thinking about what her days look like right now and choosing something that brings a little comfort to them.
Give her something for the days ahead.
A friend made me this “Little Box of Pick-Me-Ups” filled with little surprises and envelopes to open at different moments, including one for when I needed a laugh.
It wasn't just something I opened once. It gave me little moments of encouragement to reach for along the way, depending on what kind of day I was having.
Sometimes giving grace is creating something she can come back to whenever she needs a little lift.
Make it just for her.
During treatment, someone made this wooden survivor sign especially for me. It had my name, the year and the pink ribbon, turning something I was going through into something personal that I could keep.
There was something especially meaningful about knowing someone had taken the time to make something just for me.
Sometimes giving grace is creating something that reminds her just how many people are believing in her and cheering her on.
Not sure what to give her?
The best gift isn't necessarily the most expensive one. It's often the one that says, “I know you.”
Choose comfort. Soft pajamas, a cozy blanket or something that makes resting and recovering a little more comfortable can be a simple way to care for her.
Make it personal. A meaningful phrase, an inside joke, something personalized or a gift connected to her story can mean far more than something chosen simply because it's pink.
Think about who she is. What does she love? What makes her laugh? What would feel like her? Not everything you give her has to be about breast cancer.
Tell her why you chose it. A few words about what made you think of her can become just as meaningful as the gift itself.
Don't overthink the gift.
You don't need to find the perfect “cancer gift.” Think about the woman you know and choose something that will make her feel comfortable, encouraged, understood or simply loved.
Sometimes giving grace is choosing something that lets her know you were thinking specifically of her.