Years ago I was suffering emotionally but had to attend a family party. I kept my emotions controlled during the party, but eventually I retreated to the front porch for respite.

My former brother-in-law joined me on the porch bench. As a man of few words, he didn’t say much. But he knew I was suffering and offered just to sit with me for a while. His presence bolstered me for the rest of the day and soothed my hurts.

That day is now a powerful lesson to me. I’m a talker by nature. But I have learned that sitting with someone in silence is often the best care I can offer. It’s one of the few things Job’s friends did right in comforting him. We can follow that part of their example to care for suffering people.