If your friend is feeling sad or depressed

Q: How can I help a friend who’s feeling sad or depressed?

A: I was at an event for my college when I noticed that one of my friends didn’t seem to be doing well. I didn’t want to ask her what was going on, since I wasn’t sure if she really was sad or what. But if she was sad or depressed, I did want to help her. So I went back to my dorm room, and I started praying the way I’ve learned in Christian Science—talking to God, asking God for help, and listening. In my prayer I said, “God, if there is something I need to know, please tell me.”

One day, about a week later, I was playing some hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal on the piano after a meeting when my friend came over and wanted me to play hymns for her. As I played, I noticed that she had tears in her eyes, so I stopped and asked her if everything was OK.