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Some of the hardest moments in life are also the moments when the people around us most need to feel loved. Whether someone you care about is grieving a loss, facing a serious illness, going through a painful life change or simply having a really hard time — the instinct to do something, to show up in some way, is one of the most human impulses there is. But what do you actually give? Flowers feel temporary. Food feels practical rather than personal. A card, however heartfelt, can feel inadequate for the weight of what someone is carrying. And yet doing nothing feels worse. The truth is, the best gifts for difficult times aren't about filling a practical need. They're about saying I see you. I'm thinking of you. You are not alone. And the gifts that say that most powerfully are the ones that last — that sit on a windowsill or a shelf and quietly carry that message every single day. Here is our guide to finding something truly meaningful for someone who needs it most. What Makes a Gift Meaningful in Difficult Times? Before we look at specific ideas, it's worth understanding what makes a gift land well — and what doesn't — when someone is struggling. Lasting over temporary. A bunch of flowers is beautiful but gone within a week. A handmade glass piece will still be sitting in the same spot ten years from now, still carrying the same message. When someone is grieving or unwell, they need reminders of love that last longer than the immediate crisis. Personal over generic. A gift that has clearly been chosen specifically for this person, this situation and this moment carries far more weight than something off a shelf. Personalised gifts, pieces chosen in a specific colour or symbolic meaning, items that reference something important about the person — these all say I thought about you in a way that generic gifts simply can't. Gentle over overwhelming. When someone is going through a difficult time, they often have limited emotional energy. A gift that is quiet and beautiful — something they can simply keep and look at — is often more comforting than something that requires effort, response or engagement. Symbolic over practical. In moments of grief or difficulty, people often find great comfort in symbolism. A piece that represents love, hope, peace or connection can become a genuine anchor — something they reach for in hard moments and find comfort in. With that in mind, here are our most thoughtful recommendations. 1. A Sympathy Friendship Ball or Heart Our friendship balls and friendship hearts have been given as sympathy gifts by thousands of our customers over the years — and the messages we receive about them are genuinely moving. They work because they're beautiful, lasting and quietly symbolic. A friendship ball given in a time of grief becomes a permanent reminder of the love and care of the person who gave it. It sits in a window and catches the light every day — a gentle, wordless message that someone was thinking of you. Our sentiment range includes specific pieces designed for difficult moments — including "In Loving Memory", "Stay Strong" and "Thinking of You" designs that carry the right message without being heavy or mournful. For someone who has lost a loved one, a friendship heart in white — representing purity and peace — or in the favourite colour of the person who has passed is a particularly thoughtful choice. 2. A Keepsake Angel Angels have been a symbol of comfort, protection and divine presence across cultures and faiths for thousands of years. For someone going through a difficult time — whether they are religious or simply find comfort in symbolism — an angel gift can be deeply meaningful. Our keepsake angels are handcrafted glass angels available in pink, gold and blue. Each one is delicate, beautiful and carries a quiet sense of peace that makes them one of our most popular sympathy and comfort gifts. They're small enough to sit on a bedside table or a windowsill — somewhere they'll be seen every day — and beautiful enough to feel like a genuine gift rather than a token gesture. 3. An Angel Orb Our angel orbs are one of our most spiritually significant pieces — and one of the most comforting gifts we offer for times of loss or difficulty. Each angel orb is associated with a specific archangel and a specific colour — from the emerald green of Archangel Raphael, associated with healing and comfort, to the amethyst of Archangel Jeremiel, associated with hope and life review. For someone navigating grief, illness or a major life transition, the symbolism of an angel orb can provide genuine solace. Even for those without specific religious beliefs, the beauty and intention of these pieces makes them meaningful gifts. They say I am sending you comfort and light in a way that transcends any particular faith tradition. 4. A Pet Memorial Urn or Keepsake Losing a pet is a grief that is often underestimated by those who haven't experienced it. For someone who has lost a beloved animal companion, the pain can be as acute as any other bereavement — and they deserve a gift that acknowledges that fully. Our pet urns are beautiful handmade glass pieces designed to hold the ashes of a beloved pet — or simply to serve as a memorial object for those who choose not to keep ashes. Each one is unique, handcrafted and treated with the same care and artistry as every other piece in our collection. Giving a pet urn is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for someone who has lost an animal companion. It says your grief is real. Your love mattered. And your pet deserves to be remembered beautifully. 5. A Spirit Ball With a Meaningful Sentiment Our spirit balls carry specific sentiments on their labels — making them particularly powerful gifts for difficult times. Unlike a generic ornament, a spirit ball with the words "Thinking of You", "Sorry You're Going Through This" or "Stay Strong" carries a message that the recipient will read every time they look at it. They're available in a range of colours and sentiments — from supportive messages for someone facing illness or hardship to remembrance pieces for those who are grieving. Browse our full spirit ball collection to find the right words for the right moment. 6. An Attraction Orb Our attraction orbs are designed around specific intentions — hope, healing, strength, peace and courage among them. For someone going through a difficult time, gifting an attraction orb associated with exactly what they need most is a deeply thoughtful and personal gesture. The Healing orb, the Hope orb and the Strength orb are particularly popular for difficult times — each one a beautiful handcrafted piece that carries a clear and comforting intention. Place one on a windowsill where it can catch the light and it becomes a daily visual reminder of the quality the recipient is trying to cultivate. 7. A Personalised Keepsake When someone is grieving or struggling, a personalised gift has particular power. A personalised friendship ball or personalised friendship heart with a name, a date or a message chosen specifically for them and this moment becomes something they will keep forever. Consider a message like "You are stronger than you know", a date that was significant to the person they've lost, or simply the name of someone they're missing. The personalisation transforms a beautiful object into an irreplaceable one — something that exists only once in the world and was made specifically for them. What to Write in the Card Knowing what to give is only half the challenge. Knowing what to say is often harder. Here are a few simple guidelines: Keep it simple. You don't need to find the perfect words. "I'm thinking of you" and "I'm here" are more powerful than elaborate sentiments that try too hard. Acknowledge the difficulty. Don't minimise what they're going through or rush to silver linings. Simply acknowledging that this is hard, and that you see them, is often the most comforting thing you can do. Don't feel pressure to fix it. The best gifts and the best words in difficult times aren't about making things better — they're about making someone feel less alone. That's enough. That's everything. Let the gift speak. If you've chosen something meaningful and beautiful, you don't need many words to go with it. A simple "I chose this for you because I wanted you to have something beautiful to look at on the hard days" says everything. A Final Thought The instinct to show up for someone in their difficult moments is one of the finest things about being human. Even when you don't know what to say or what to give — the fact that you're trying matters more than you know. A gift chosen with care and given with love doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be genuine. And a beautiful, lasting, handmade piece that sits in someone's window and catches the light every morning — that's as genuine as gifts get. Browse our sympathy and remembrance collection → Find a meaningful gift for someone you love →