Stabat mater dolorosa. At the cross her station keeping. There was nothing else to be done, except to be there. The presence of our helplessness is our gift to the helpless. - Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, Death on a Friday Afternoon
Not understanding this is why so many people struggle to find some way to comfort the grieving, and end up saying such hurtful things in the process. I'm likely as guilty as anyone of this. We're taught to resist our helplessness, not to embrace it, so we struggle for some words of ours that will bring comfort when only our presence will make any difference at all. The gift of our self is the best thing we have to offer.
It is the gift which God offers to us.
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