"A man has joy in the utterance of his mouth, and a word at the right time, how good
it is." Proverbs 15:23
As a rule, silence is golden and generally we do not regret having held our peace.
But sometimes not saying the proper thing is wrong.
Often, in situations where others have suffered great personal losses, we don’t know what
to say, and the awkwardness of keeping silent may cause us to avoid the discomfort of such a situation and miss an opportunity
to reach out. Suppose we hear that an acquaintance lost a child in a traffic accident or to a serious illness. I don't know
what to say to them, we tell ourselves. Since we do not know what to say, we may simply avoid the bereaved family
and thereby add loneliness to their suffering.
If you hear of a tragedy, don’t stay away or keep silent. Simple words when said in sincerity can
give support. Though they cannot restore anyone's loss, they can lessen the pain.