I thank you, God, for giving me strong friends
Who’ll make me laugh and hold me while I cry, 
Who’ll honestly reveal to me the flaws
My character or personality
Display to all the world but hide from me:
My arrogance, my lack of self-esteem
(A curious conjunction though they be).

I thank you, God, for giving me strong friends
Who’ll lend to me forgiveness while they wait
For me to recognize when I offend
And render my abject apology.

I thank you, God, for giving me strong friends
Who do not fear to share their hopes and fears,
Their disappointments, longings, joys, and griefs,
Their questions and their answers, who’ll attend
To my importunate advice and give
It due consideration, whether it
Has merits, or confirms the arrogance
They note, reveal, and suffer graciously.

I thank you, friends, for all you are and see:
For you reveal the loving God to me.

Amen. 

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