Friday, February 25, 2011

Asking for help

I'm finally getting over this nasty virus, and I think that soon we'll be a healthy household again. Whew!

Yesterday morning, though, I wasn't so optimistic. I woke up feeling awful, and I still had a fever. I was just so frustrated, and so tired.

So I sent a Facebook message to other women from my church, asking if someone could provide us with dinner.

It was a little awkward to send the message--actually asking for a specific type of help. But if I didn't ask, how would anyone know what I needed? So ask I did.

And I ended up with a three people contacting me offering to bring us meals. Wow! By the time dinner arrived, I was feeling a lot better, but it was still wonderful to be able to rest instead of pushing myself to get a meal together.

Here's the thing about asking for help--you're opening yourself up to rejection. But you're also opening yourself up to blessing. And I like to think that for most of us, the blessing is a lot more likely than the rejection.

I was blessed when I needed it...because I asked.

12 comments:

Renee said...

I'm so happy you got such positive responses from three people! Glad to hear you're feeling better and on the mend!

Unknown said...

I'm glad that you asked for and got the help you needed so you could focus on feeling better. It really is hard sometimes to ask, but like you said no one will know you need help unless you say something.

Call Me Cate said...

I'm so glad you had people to help you when you needed it. And you're right that they can't help if they don't know help is needed, even if they're completely willing to do so.

Mostly, I'm glad to hear that you're all finally about done with this illness. It seems like you've all been sick forever and that's just no good.

Megan Fletcher said...

thanks for sharing Beth! You're right that people won't know the need unless you make it known and your experience is proof that others want to help when given an opportunity. Joel is going out of town for a conference today for 4 days and then again a week later for 4 days. I've asked for help and plan on sending an email similar to yours if I feel the need during that time. We rob others of the blessing when we refuse to humbly ask for help. I don't like when someone refuses when I just want to bless them, so I try to remember that and be a gracious recipient too.

Amanda said...

Asking for help is something I still struggle with, I never want to be a burden, but then I think about the joy I receive when I help someone else. So, maybe I should bring more joy to someones life :)

Janell said...

February just seems to hit so hard with sickness! I'm glad you're feeling better, and that you didn't have to make dinner last night. That is a burden lifted and I'm sure your friends were happy to provide. And I'm sure you would be the first to do the same for someone else!

Andy from California said...

yeah it takes some serious vulnerability to get to the point where true community amongst a group can begin to be built. If followers of Jesus aren't there for each other, why would "the world" want to join us? But that definitely takes some openness on each individuals part - like you said - if we don't say anything, how will anyone know what is going on with us?

Laurel said...

I'll make you dinner sometime, sick or not sick :)!

Kendra said...

so glad you asked. so glad, too, to be "living in community." we are blessed!

Kristen said...

*Like*

:-D

Glad you asked-and received!

Sandra said...

I think asking for help is one of the hardest things in the world to do. Good for you for having the right attitude about it and being willing to ask.

Vixbil said...

So glad you got such positive responses and well done for asking for help. Like you said no one knows you need it unless you ask and they would be upset if they found out they could have helped in any way. Glad you are better now though
xxxx