Immersed in Prayer
Friendship is one of the greatest gifts a human being can receive. It is a bond beyond common goals, common interests, or common histories. It is a bond stronger than sexual union can create, deeper than a shared fate can solidify, and it can be even more intimate than the bonds of marriage or community.
Friendship is being with the other in joy and sorrow, even when we cannot increase the joy or decrease the sorrow. It is a unity of souls that gives nobility and sincerity to love. Friendship makes all of life shine brightly. Blessed are those who lay down their lives for their friends.
—Henri J M Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
Friendship, as Henri Nouwen describes, is one of the rarest and richest treasures we can receive. It’s not just about shared interests or mutual goals—it’s about presence. A true friend doesn’t always have the answers or the power to fix things, but their nearness in joy and sorrow becomes a holy gift. It’s a soul-to-soul connection that gives depth, dignity, and beauty to love.
In the world of recovery and healing, such friendships are life-giving. They remind us we are not alone, not invisible, and not beyond the reach of grace. A real friend sees past your struggles and stays anyway. Jesus called us friends and then laid down his life for us—the highest expression of love. And in following Him, we’re invited to be that kind of friend to others: sincere, steady, and soul-deep. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics