At some of the darkest moments in my life, some people I thought of as friends deserted me-some because they cared about me and it hurt them to see me in pain; others because I reminded them of their own vulnerability, and that was more than they could handle. But real friends overcame their discomfort and came to sit with me. If they had not words to make me feel better, they sat in silence (much better than saying, "You'll get over it," or "It's not so bad; others have it worse") and I loved them for it.

Many biblical verses are like inkblot tests, revealing more about us than about the text in question.

When facing a dilemma, choose the more morally demanding alternative.

There are some things we should feel guilty about, but the guilt feelings should attach to the deed, not to the doer.

No good deed ever goes wasted.

I suspect that the happiest people you know are the ones who work at being kind, helpful and reliable - and happiness sneaks into their lives while they are busy doing those things. It is a by-product, never a primary goal.

Children need parents who will let them grow up to be themselves, but parents often have personal agendas they try to impose on their children.