The word 'comfort' comes from the Latin words for 'with' and strength' and originally meant operating from a position of power."
                     

                      ~  Joseph Chilton Pierce

The word "soothe" first comes to mind when I think of comforting someone and "to comfort" seems to call for compassion and tenderness more than strength and power.

But when I recall specific times of comforting someone, I realize that, while my demeanor may have been tender, from my head, through my heart, through my gut, I was rooted in strength.

I can also remember times when my ability to comfort was weakened because I was not so grounded and empowered. In those instances, I may have offered platitudes or advice or shared something from my own experience or even babbled from my own discomfort. Have you ever done that?  

I'm now understanding that it does take strength to be present and real with someone in their grief, fear, despair, or anguish of any kind. When there are no words and seemingly there is nothing we can do, we can call upon strength and the courage to be vulnerable. We can tap into the powers of love, compassion, and wisdom. Faith too.

There is a saying that when we commit to something in our hearts but we don't know what to do, Spirit meets us and leads us. 

For all those times,

Charlene

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