on being willing to ask for help.

17Jun
by Jon Swanson

I’m out of town for a few days. Nancy almost didn’t tell me about the water heater, the one that is old, the one that is on my goal list for the year, the one that I haven’t gotten around to fixing, the one that started releasing water across the floor this morning in a slow stream.

But she told me. And I called my friend.

I’m leaving out his name. That’s what he’d prefer. But he told me one day that if I’m ever traveling and something happens at the house, call him. He is incredibly competent. He is even more caring. I knew when he offered that his offer was true.

When I dialed his number, I cried. I could barely ask him for help. A sincere offer from a person more competent than I am, from a guy who would never say, “you should have taken care of this.” And I hardly dared call.

The water heater will be checked out the day you are reading this. I am convinced of this.

There is a lesson here, of course. In fact, there are three.

One, this is exactly what James talks about when he says, “if you need wisdom, ask God who will give without finding fault.” God is competent in the wisdom department. He offers. I too seldom ask.

Two, this is exactly the kind of caring I want to offer, to say “I’ll help” and then to have people know that they can count on it.

Three, this conversation broke a piece off the part of my heart that says, “I can do it myself.” I can’t. He can.

The scary part? I could have said to Nancy, “I’ll take care of it when I get there.” And, because of my pride, flooded my family.

5 thoughts on “on being willing to ask for help.”

  1. Cheryl Smith

    And take it from me, a flooded home is no fun to deal with. Thankful you have such a thoughtful friend to say, “if ever…call.” And that you gave him the opportunity to serve you. Hard as that might have been.

    Like

  2. Joseph Ruiz

    And there is another lesson Jon, the fact that you are willing to humble yourself and opening share these things with us so we can all learn. Kind of like Paul comforting with the comfort he had received. Allowing people to serve us is undervalued. It is very powerful, true some do it all too well but most of us don’t.

    Thanks for sharing.
    Be well and dry 😉
    Grace and Peace
    Joe

    Like

  3. Rich Dixon

    23 years in a wheelchair should have taught me this lesson, but I’m a slow learner. Why do we talk and preach and write and KNOW about the value of community, and yet cling to the isolation and illusion of self-sufficiency?\

    Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He’s really saying, “I’ll be happy to help.” But I keep trying to do it myself.

    I need some shelves in my garage. A friend offered to build them, but stupid pride has prevented me from accepting his offer. Thanks for prompting me to call him today to allow him to serve.

    You’re in our prayers this weekend.

    Like

  5. Pingback: Some thoughts on talking with God. | 300 words a day

Comments are closed