Kass P Dotterweich - Friendship Therapy

Friendship Therapy Kass P. Dotterweich and John D. Perry Illustrated by R. W. Alley Abbey Press All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. Text copyright 1994 by Kass P.

Dotterweich and John D. Perry
Illustrations copyright 1994 by Saint Meinrad Archabbey ISBN: 978-1-4976-8031-9 Abbey Press Publications 1 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, Indiana 47577 www.abbeypress.com Distributed by Open Road Distribution 345 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014 www.openroadmedia.com Foreword Friendship is the cornerstone of life, the place where we can be ourselves, even as were becoming our best. Yet, when demanding schedules and daily responsibilities distract us from appreciating lifes most priceless gifts, we sometimes neglect to cultivate friendship. Take a moment to think about a favorite friend. Why is this person your friend? Have you told your friend that the relationship you share is important to youand why? Are there ways you can enrich that relationship? Friendship Therapy can help you appraise your friendship with honesty and objectivity, appreciate and validate the unique relationship you have with your friend, and enhance your ability to be a friend.

As a gift for someone else, it can provide a way to express caring sentiments that are sometimes difficult to articulate and can serve as a testimonial to the value of your relationship. Let the insights of Friendship Therapy be your friendly guide to the riches of sharing your deepest self in the gift of friendship. 1. A friend accepts you just as you are. Who you are in your friends eyes gives you a glimpse of who you are in Gods eyes. 2. Cultivate your friendship. 3. Let your friendship be large or small, tall or short, square or round, paisley or plain. 3. Let your friendship be large or small, tall or short, square or round, paisley or plain.

Friendships come in every size and shape and shade imaginable. 4. Allow your friendship the graceful freedom of a ship at sea. When the waves dash against you, when the strong winds fill your sails, when the calm allows clear sailing, when the stars guide you by night, you are partners at the helm. Your friend-ship can take you to distant and undreamed-of shores. 5. To be a good friend, value yourself. 6. You dont need to vow to be a friend forever; just be. 6. You dont need to vow to be a friend forever; just be.

Say yes to the gift you are to each other and warm yourselves in the glow of that miracle. 7. Give to your friend without expecting something in return. The most gratifying giving comes without expectation or concern for outcome. 8. Spend time with your friend: sweet timewalking, playing, praying; not-so-sweet timedisagreeing, hurting, searching. Friendship embraces the whole spectrum of life itself. 10. Listen gently to each others sobs; your hearts will know abundant life. 11. Bless your friends brokenness; let your friend bless yours. 11. Bless your friends brokenness; let your friend bless yours.

This is what God does. 12. Accept your friend without being judgmental. Its not that you dont challenge each other; its just that you strive to know each others reality. 13. Turn to your friend when youre feeling weak or in need of help. You may have more to offer the relationship when it seems you have little to give. 15. Be truthful with your friend. 15. Be truthful with your friend.

Truth and love are themselves friends; one without the other makes each less. 16. Be humble with your friend. You cannot be who your friend needs if you think you have all the answers. 17. Allow yourself to be loved by your friend. You can give only what you have received. 18. Be open to finding new aspects of your true self in your friendship. 18. Be open to finding new aspects of your true self in your friendship.

When you see yourself in the eyes of a friend, you discover you as a fresh and exciting creation.