Our friends stopped, as if to put all other conversations aside, and considered my fears with me for the next half hour. Then they prayed for me. Why was that so helpful? Good helpers, such as these friends: are present, which is a good thing when fears arise; listen, really listen; draw you out; avoid being impersonal teachers; never minimize, are never trite; remember. Those are qualities of Jesus himself, and they are some of the skills we will consider up ahead.
