This is the one time it is good to be called a rock. The cornerstone is a primary stone at the base of two walls that is essential to building construction and sets the foundation of the building.  

Relationships are a give and take. We cannot be all things to everyone, but we can play a critical role to a few as their cornerstone. We must expect to fulfill this function for those nearest to us in our circle of relations in some capacity.

Does your network look to you as the stoic rock that is not shaken in times of uncertainty, the one that can be counted on to bring a laugh at just the right moment, or the one that can provide a practical blessing at a time of need? 

A building is a structure that serves a purpose, just as our relationships serve a purpose. They won't last 136 years, but they will last for a time. Healthy relationships will acknowledge how each member can be depended upon to bear the weight of the friendship, love, care and dependence. Interlocking stones can build a robust structure to memorialize the relationship and what it accomplished.

Your presence as a cornerstone matters and is vital to the beauty of the construction. Don't discount the impact of one stone.

Going Further: Who are your cornerstones? How have these cornerstones influenced your life? How have they changed over the years? What cornerstone was a surprise? Who is depending on you for too much? What ways can you serve in a greater capacity?