When we honestly ask ourselves which persons
in our lives mean the most to us, we often find it is those who
instead of giving advice, solutions or cures,
have chosen rather to share our pain
and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us
in a moment of despair and confusion,
who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing,
and face with us the reality of our powerlessness,
that is a friend who cares.
~Henri Nouwen
