A friend

"A man with many friends may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother" Prov. 18:4
I am profoundly comforted by the reality that during an extremely emotional eleven day vigil with my family gathered around my mother as she lay dying in a hospital bed,  I had one friend who was as close to me as my own brothers there in the room. He made it a point to come and sit with me every day,  just to listen and to comfort me in my grief. At a time when nothing seemed real,  I knew his friendship and caring concern for me was real because there where tears running down his cheeks. At a time like this it's difficult to tell people what you need when they ask you in a text "is there anything we can do" when you can't bring yourself to spell it out,  and that's when a good friend steps in and just does what is needed most and that is just to be there with you. However, words of condolence in a text or email are especially meaningful and comforting, but when distance is not a factor, words may not always be as necessary as just being there without even having to say anything.