How to help someone who is grieving, a thread:

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is give them space to cry. Tears are healing.

Everyone is different, but physical touch can be very healing. A pat on the back, a hand on the arm, holding their hand. Of course, ask first and read their body language.

Grieving people often want to leave the scene of the loss. Offer to take them out often.

There are several stages of grief: denial/numbness/shock, fear/anger, guilt, sadness, bargaining, acceptance. These will not be in order and will come and go depending on the moment. Understand that.

A grieving person might be forgetful and have trouble making decisions. Don't be afraid to make some decisions for them, such as where to eat or where to go that day.

Encourage them to talk about the person who died. A lot of the time we're afraid to talk about them for fear of "reminding" them but the truth of the matter is they're always thinking about them, whether they're talking about them or not.

Conversely, having "fun" together is also helpful, and distractions for a little while will give a small semblance of normalcy.

Talk about good, funny, and cherishing memories of the one who died. Celebrate their life.

Drop off food and gifts. Send them messages letting them know you're thinking about them and that they're not alone.

Do things for them to make life a little easier. Offer to do their laundry, get their groceries, get their car checked up. Little errands.

Validate their feelings. Whatever it is. Whether it's guilt, shock, anger. Anger at God, anger at the one who died. Say "it makes sense you're feeling this right now, it's a normal feeling to have when something this painful happened to you." Don't be preachy.

Be forgiving. They might ignore you sometimes, they might lash out in anger, they might be irritated. This is normal. They will remember this patience down the road.

FOLLOW THROUGH. Months later, continue to be the friend you said you would be. Continue to check on them, help them, listen to them.