I just got to meet my great nephews and niece for the first time. They are precious and rambunctious, full of the zest for life. The littlest guy, Bruce, just turned two. We got to ride down a bumpy muddy road together in a UTV on my brother & sister-in-law’s country property in TN. We had so much fun!
Once we were done with our ride he wanted to “drive”. He sat in the front seat enjoying moving the steering wheel and any button he could reach. Then he looked at me and said, “Help!” It was very clear that the “help” he wanted was to make the vehicle GO. Brent commented that it was a good thing he couldn’t reach the pedals. My niece’s boyfriend, Stuart, said, “Oh he tried. He used the file to reach and see if he could push it down” 😳 We made sure all tools he could use were safely stowed and Uncle Brent took him for a ride on his lap, letting him “drive.” 😍
Bruce’s plea for help makes me smile each time I recall it. It also made me think. When does it become so hard to ask for the help we need? Why do we often feel like we have to handle life on our own? It can go so much better when we admit we could use some assistance.
When my sister, Rikki, passed away last year from covid while I was in the middle of chemotherapy, it was excruciating to not attend the service to celebrate her life at her home in GA. I’ve been wanting to see my precious nieces, meet the kiddos, and spend time remembering her together. My brother Darrin and sister-in-law Julie have also wanted us to see their place in TN. We asked our niece, Madison, husband (Josh) & kids along with our niece, Jessica, and her boyfriend (Stuart) to gather with us in TN. Together we made super special memories that included taking time to tell stories and honor my sister’s life. This photo of us all shows how much fun we had.
Traveling is always tricky for me due to my damaged foot from the old horse injury. Now the peripheral neuropathy from chemotherapy has made it even harder. I’m so thankful for the wheelchair service that airports offer and Brent’s gracious help with my bags. As we returned home from TN, we were concerned about how long it would take to get a wheelchair person to pick me up at the rental car return area. We left extra early to allow for a delay. When returning our car, Brent asked the Budget agent how to request a wheelchair be delivered to the garage. He said, “Oh I’ll just drive you over to Departures.” Wow. We just had to say, “Help!”
“Help” can also be a profound prayer. A prayer in which we express our inability to meet all our own needs, and God’s unlimited resources to do so. The psalmist said, “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings (Ps 63:7)”. Joy can be found in the safety of God’s protection and certainty of His help. Today I was encouraged by Isaiah 30:19, “…How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you.”
The next verse is more challenging to my spirit, v 20 “Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.” I’m realizing that God’s gifts can often be wrapped in hard circumstances. Its in the middle of them that we are drawn more fully into what He has for us- especially more of Him because its there that I humbly realize my need. This was so true this last year during treatment.
Unfortunately asking for help from humans doesn’t always bring the assistance we hope for- perhaps they don’t understand the request or can’t step in for some reason of their own. This can hurt and can hinder us from asking again in the future. We’ve done the same to others- left them needing more. Thankfully God’s resources are inexhaustible and He’s always ready and able to meet our deepest needs and many of our wants. That provision may come in unexpected ways. May we have eyes to see and ears to, “hear a voice behind [us], saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it'” (Is 30:22).
I’m so grateful we don’t have to go it alone. Its soul food to watch God redeem hard circumstances or meet our needs in ways we didn’t imagine- like a Budget rental car employee being our Uber driver ☺️
Here’s one of my favorite photos of my sister (middle) with me (left) and niece Jessica (right) from Thanksgiving 2013.
Wendy, I just love reading your beautiful reflections! Thank you for sharing all you do through your blog- it’s truly a blessing to be a part of your story this way. I’m glad you had a good trip to TN with all your family- and that all your wants and needs were provided for and in your budget 😉. Thank you also for the simple reminder about asking for help. 💕
Thank you Wendy. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for me to read this.
Blessings to you!