How to handle a friend's miscarriage

I had a friend ask me today "What should we do?" regarding how to help me following my miscarriage. I realized it was a great question, and until you go through one, you really don't know what to do. So here is what *I* needed and helped me.

Honestly, I wanted to be left alone. The face-to-face sympathy, while it's appreciated, made me feel VERY uncomfortable. So personally, I just wanted to stay home for a week or so to avoid that. During that time, I personally took a lot of time to pray and seek God. I also used that time to reclaim the mess in my house. I had let it go, because the first trimester makes me so tired, that I'd nap when the kids napped, which is when I usually clean house. So I took my anger and grief, and focused it on my house.

As for friends, I greatly appreciated the "I'm sorry"s, hugs and prayers via the internet. They did mean a lot. And honestly, the prayers were the greatest. They really helped me through I think.

As for a way to actually show me the support, there were two things that took place. One friend told me "I'm bringing you dinner tomorrow. Is this time good?" That was really appreciated because I am not the type to say yes to offers, but if you're just telling me you're doing it, I won't tell you don't. I felt bad, because I really didn't need the meal, I was having no problem cooking, but God placed it on my heart that I give to others so much, let them give back to me. And that meal, for 2 nights, was greatly appreciated.

The other was a friend who said "Hey, want me to come watch your kids for an hour or two while you go to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and pray before the Eucharist?" This is something I've never actually done, but I knew some time away from my house, away from my other children, to think and pray, would be very good and healing. And it was.

So, that was how I handled the healing, and what I needed or what helped me.

With that said, if you're still up for praying for us, please do. I am very tired and warn out it seems, probably from not getting enough sleep. Satan knows we're struggling, and he's using that to his full advantage in our marriage. Thank you.