a friend who cares

When we ask ourselves 
which person 
in our lives 
mean the most to us, 
we often find that
it is those who, 
instead of giving advice,
solutions, 
or cures, 
have chose 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 or 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