While doing research for a doctoral thesis, a young man spent a year with a group of Navajo Indians on a reservation in the Southwest. He lived with one family, sleeping in their hut, eating their food, working with them, and generally living their life.
The grandmother of the family spoke no English, yet a very close friendship formed between the grandmother and the doctoral student. They seemed to share the common language of love and they intuitively understood each other.
Over the months he learned a few phrases of Navajo, and she picked up words and phrases in English.
When it was time for the young man to return to the university and write his thesis, the tribe held a going-away celebration for him. It was marked by sadness since he had developed a close relationship with all those in the village. As he prepared to get into his pickup truck and drive away, the old grandmother came to tell him goodbye.
With tears streaming from her eyes, she placed her hands on either side of his face, looked directly into his eyes, and said, “I like me best when I’m with you.”
True friendship is letting those around you not only “be themselves” but “be their people” by knowing what you are by what they see, not by what they hear.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16