Just Be.

Recently, a close friend of mine lost her father to cancer. Though I've lost both my parents, I didn't want to diminish the gravity of her grief by equating it to my own experiences. I know all too well that everyone grieves differently. I wanted to comfort her, but I just didn't quite know how to reach her when she was in such a sad place.

Oftentimes, we really want to do something to help others when they are struggling. Sometimes, doing something can mean taking a task off someone's plate when they feel overwhelmed with
grief or stress. Other times, when solicited, we can help people by sharing our advice, expertise,
or personal experiences with them as an example of how we've navigated hard things. We can
also share resources for where our friends and loved ones can seek help from support groups or other professionals.

But what if none of those things seems to fit the situation? What if it seems like there's nothing we can do, and the person we are trying to help is too numb to articulate their needs? In those situations, those who pray can bow their heads and ask God for guidance and peace for someone they're worried about. But sometimes, all we need to do is just be with them.

"When you can't look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark." -unknown

In some situations, our silent presence alone provides enough comfort to help people when they are down. May we all provide a quiet shoulder to lean on when friends or loved ones are desperately searching for brighter days. The silver lining? It will undoubtedly comfort us, too.