Asking For Help

The other night at dinner with friends, we got into a conversation about asking for help. As usual, I continued to ponder this idea for a while.
For most of us, it is very easy to help others. When someone mentions a need, most people I know are right there asking how they can help, offering monetary assistance, or whatever.
However, when it comes to asking for help for ourselves, we don't. I'm just as guilty as the next person about not asking for assistance. I find some way to do it myself, whether that means injuring myself in the process or not. And this begs the question--why?

As I am sure you have guessed, I have come up with some reasons:
Pride: I am sure this is probably highest on the scale of not asking. We feel that it makes us look weak or needy or something if we ask. Actually, it makes us HUMAN.

Independence: I believe this is really close to pride. I, myself, have quite the independent streak running through me. I don't "need" anyone to help me. But, that's not how God created us. When He created Adam, He saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so He created a helper for him. Note the word helper. Not lover, not girlfriend or wife. The word is helper.

Not wanting to be a burden: Hmmm...I know this is a problem, but I also know that many people out there love to help, thus canceling out the whole burden idea. Someone once told me not to rob someone of the blessing of helping others. I never thought of it that way.

Just because we are single does not mean we are alone. We have many connections for people to help. When we ask for help, we are allowing those connections to grow stronger. We are allowing others to become just a little more a part of our lives. We are becoming more of a community.

So, let me encourage all of us to be open to asking for help. Whether you need something moved, a shoulder to lean on, or some paint on your walls. You can always pay that help forward. Others can be blessed through helping you and you can be blessed as well.
Patty