Friendship

　　Wearemostoftencalledupontosupportothersainfriendship.Severalyearsago,Donnahadbeenfeelingverydepressed.Shehadjustbrokenupwithherboyfriendoftwoyears,andshewashavingaverydifficulttimeacceptingtheloss.Shehadbeenlaidupwithakneeinjuryforseveraldays,andthetimealoneathomecertainlywasnothelping.Hermiserywasonlycompoundedbuherfrustrationatherselffornotbeingabletopullittogetherandstopcryingallthetime.

　　Earlyonemorning,Donnareceivedaphonecallwithsometerriblenews:jerbestfroemd'sbrotherhadbeenkilledinacaraccident.Doonahadknownthisfriendl.Mary,andherbrothernearlyherentirelife,andthenewswasdebastating.However,Donnaquicklypulledherselftogethergotinthecaranddrovetoherfriend'shousetobetherewithher.

　　Overthecourseofthenextfesdays,amidstthehazeofthefuneralandhundrtedsofvisitors,Donnawas100percentpresentforMary.Sheheldherclosewhileshecriedendlesstears,satbyhersideasthewavesofgriefwashedoverherfriend,andsleptonthefloornexttoMary'sbedtomakesureshedidnotwakeupaloneinthemiddleofthenight.Duringthattimeshehardlyfeltanypaininherkneeatallandnoneofthedepressionshehadbeenexperiening.

　　Severakweekslater,whenlifebegantoreturntonormal.DonnarealizedthatthelevelofsupportshehadgivenMaryfarexceededanysupportshehadofferedherselfduringherdarktime.Shewasabletousethesupportshehadgivenherfriendasmirrorforthesupportshehadbeenwithholdingfromherself.Sherealizedthatherowntearsrequiredasmuchattentionandnurturingfromherasanyoneelse's,andthatifshecouldgiveittoanother,shemustbeabletoalsofiveittoherself.