"Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."
Why is it so hard for me to ask for help? Why do I cringe at the thought of people knowing I'm weak?
I've been at home all week with a sinus infection, and nobody knew but my husband, my immediate family in the States, and my coworkers. The latter only knew because I had to call and tell them I wasn't coming to work.
I was sitting here thinking, "I can't go out in the cold and rain--I'll probably get sicker. But I don't have anything you're supposed to have when you're sick. My husband's at work and won't be home until after midnight. What am I going to do?"
Then I remembered a couple of my coworkers had offered to help me if needed. Yet I hesitated. "I don't want them to have to go to the trouble... If only my family were close by..."
Then I remembered the verse above. "Better a neighbor nearby..."
"Oh, but I couldn't ask the older lady from church." Even though I knew she'd love to help.
"How about that friend of mine who lives fairly close by? That's right, she's probably out of town by now."
In the end I called the older lady who is closest to me. I was in tears by the time the call was over. Why is asking her to drive two minutes to bring me a jug of water so hard??
Just as I thought, she brought me four liters of water (two 2-l bottles) AND some snacks. Then she said to call her if I needed her to pick up anything for me from the supermarket.
This is a lesson I need to learn. I'd probably have closer relationships by now if I'd started asking for help sooner. Of course, I need to pay attention to helping others in trouble as well.
[I'll post pictures here when I'm feeling better. For now, those of you on Facebook can take a look at my latest album there. ^_^ ]
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