The greatest gift you can give someone is an act of ‘just being there.’ This concept is nearly unfathomable to many people. We often think, we need to give something tangible—something that can be touched, seen and coveted—or do something. If we think about the depth and breadth of ‘just being there,’ our presence can be touched, seen and coveted.
Whether your ‘just being there’ is related to a specific situation or is an ongoing commitment, you each benefit from the experience. To be there for some one is to ‘be there’ in challenging times as well as the good times.
More often than not ‘being there’ means simply marking the time with someone, allowing them to do what is required to learn, grow and heal. It may mean holding someone’s hand, listening to someone talk, laugh or cry, spending time with him/her without expectations or input.
Your ability to empathize with someone is your greatest strength because your understanding of their needs allows you to determine how you can best serve them. Even if your understanding is limited, your loving intentions ensure that your care and attention will help.
Your offer to ‘just be there,’ can be a wonderful opportunity for your respective personal growth. Many people have difficulty asking for anything, much less your time to ‘Just be here with me.’ Conversely maybe you have difficulty ‘just being there,’ without doing this or that. Thus, instead you can learn to ‘just be there,’ providing them with emotional sustenance with your presence—your willingness to ‘just to be there,' could mean more to someone, than any other effort.
