"A friend is someone with whom 
you dare to be yourself."

-Frank Crane

Yes, a friend encourages us to be ourselves. 

And a friend will look beyond the broken fence, admire the beautiful garden, and acknowledge the talent in us.  

And yet, that same friend may pop in one balmy morning and say, "I got an idea. It's a beautiful day; let's repair the fence and then have a picnic in the garden. I brought a new slat, sandwiches, and lemonade."

I appreciate how Gloria Vanderbilt put it:  

"We are not put on this earth to see through one another. We are put on this earth to see one another through." 

Besides being a good friend to our good friends, we can cultivate a spirit of friendship toward everyone by looking for beauty instead of brokenness, by being kind, and by helping when and where we can
 

With love,
Charlene

  THE ELEVENTH GIFT IS LOVE.  

It will grow each time you give it away.  
from THE TWELVE GIFTS OF BIRTH