Fragile

In the past week, three people close to me have lost someone to cancer.

Breast cancer. Pancreatic cancer. Brain cancer.

A friend has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.

We humans are fragile.

We are also strong, brave, resilient and full of love. It's our job to share those qualities as often as we can.

How can you help someone who is going through a crisis? Just a few ideas, culled from the strong, brave, resilient, loving folks in the life of the Damm family:

• Let that person know you are available.
• Ask: What do you need right now that I can deliver?
• Offer to make a meal.
• Offer to run an errand.
• Give a gift card to a restaurant.
• Send a letter -- a real letter -- and fill it with prayers and/or jokes.
• Think of a book that inspires you, then share it.
• Share a favorite memory of that person -- something he or she did to lift your spirits, make you laugh, make you feel better about yourself.
• Ask: How can I pray for you? Then be deliberate in that prayer.
• Become friends with your friend's friends. Make alliances. There is strength and creativity in numbers.
• Be kind to others. Allow a crisis to be the perspective we all need to realign priorities.