FRIENDSHIP

Oh, the comfort--the inexpressible comfort
   of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts,
Nor measure words--but pouring them
All right out--just as they are--
Chaff and grain together--
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them--
Keep what is worth keeping--
And with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.

    ~ Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

LOVE

I LOVE YOU,
Not for what you are,
But for what I am
When I am with you.

I love you,
Not only for what
You have made of yourself,
But for what
You are making of me.

I love you
For the part of me
That you bring out;
I love you
For putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over
All the foolish, weak things
That you can't help
Dimly seeing there,
And for drawing out
Into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
Of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern
But a temple;
Out of the works
Of my every day
Not a reproach
But a song.

I love you
Because you have done
More than any creed
Could have done
To make me good,
And more than any fate
Could have done
To make me happy.

You have done it
Without a touch,
Without a word,
Without a sign.
You have done it
By being yourself.
Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,
After all.

     ~ Roy Croft

Friendship

Friendship is a mighty ship
That weathers many gales,
And leaves a blessing to the world
In every place it sails.

It helps the dreary, cheers the sad,
And drives dark clouds away.
It gives a helping hand to those
Who've fallen by the way.

Friendship is a blessed ship
That's full of peace and love,
And carries sunshine everywhere,
From God's own home above.

It makes the world a better place,
Even more like heaven sweet--
And helps to smooth the pathways out,
For weary pilgrims' feet.

                 ~ Karen Mutsch

Friendship

Oh, the comfort--the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe
  with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts,
Nor measure words--but pouring them
All right out--just as they are--
Chaff and grain together--
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them--
Keep what is worth keeping--
And with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.

--Dinah Maria Mulock Craik