My Rehoboth: With the Breath of Kindness

Two Women Having Tea

by Frank H. Desch

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But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. 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 then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."

- Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

This quote from Dinah Craik is undoubtedly my top favorite of all. What a beautiful picture it paints of kindness and gentleness.

There are times when I say, without intending to, wrong and inappropriate things. What a blessing to have a friend with whom I can feel safe and accepted, "a faithful hand" who will take and sift my words, "keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."

Lack of tact, and lack of wisdom is definitely not condoned here. But there are times in our life when we need to pour our heart out to someone with skin on... and how liberating it feels to have someone like that who will not judge you or jump all over you, dig up all your past sins to hit you on the head with, and leave you feeling like you're outside the door, standing in the rain, with your broken heart in your hands.