If You Need Help, Ask

My husband came home to find our 17-year-old lab-husky mix, Jip, had fallen into the fish pond on a particularly cold day. He got himself out but was suffering from being wet in the cold for what could have been several hours. Tim carried him inside and started to dry and warm him.

Several seizures and little improvement later, Tim called the vet, for the second time in a couple hours. The first was to get some advice and guidance. The vet, who is also a friend, had offered to meet us at the office, but we’d decided to try what he suggested by phone first. But faced with a long night of the unknown, we decided it would be best for Jip to get care we couldn’t provide him.

When Tim called Randy to ask him to meet us at his office, he was sitting down to eat supper…but didn’t hesitate. Of course, he’d meet us at the office.

We don’t like to intrude on others’ schedules, but we were certainly appreciative Randy was willing to meet us after hours. He worked with Jip for an hour or so before settling him into a kennel for the night. We thanked Randy many times for helping us.

At one point, he looked at Tim and asked, “Do you know how much it means that I can help you?”

Perhaps we don’t ask for help often enough.

Sadly, Jip was no better the next day. Randy called Tim to tell him there was something irreversibly wrong with his brain and he wouldn’t recover. Tim held Jip for the last time several hours later. Randy had the other vet take care of all the technical stuff. Randy’s role shifted to standing beside Tim.

Two days later, we received a card from Randy’s office, including all the staff’s signatures.

Randy went above and beyond. All we had to do was open the door slightly with a simple request for help.

When was the most recent time you asked for help?

When was the last time you experienced joy serving someone?

We often pour into others but find it difficult to allow someone to pour into us. Why?

Just think – when you allow someone to serve you, you’re helping them experience the same joy you experience when serving. Serving others isn’t the only way you can give. You can also give when you encourage others to serve – even when they’re serving you.

Ask for someone’s help. It might be something big like a project around your house or getting instructions on how to use new computer software. Or it might be smaller such as carrying groceries to the car or fixing a meal. Perhaps you simply need to ask for someone’s help in lightening your load by postponing a meeting. Be authentic with those around you. You’re serving alongside them. Encourage and equip them every step of the way.

I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you.

Romans 1:12

Susan Lawrence is passionate about equipping and encouraging women through writing and speaking. She’s the author of two Bible studies, Pure Purpose and Pure Emotion. She loves dark chocolate and long walks, especially when her toes are in sand! Check out Susan’s words of encouragement and send her a note at her blog or on Facebook.

Susan Lawrence

Susan Lawrence is passionate about pouring into women and loves to equip and encourage them – as individuals and teams – through writing, speaking, and training. She’s in her sweet spot when she’s inspiring women to seek God’s purpose for their lives, growing in purposeful and healthy ways. As a Women’s Ministry Consultant, Susan equips women in leadership to meet the needs of other women while balancing their own needs. She's written three Bible studies: Pure Purpose, Pure Emotion and Pure Growth, as well as Farm Days, a collection of memories from her childhood growing up on the family farm in central Illinois. (Studies are available through Amazon, BN.com, and www.PurePurpose.org.) In addition to being involved in local women’s ministry for many years, she’s developed and edited resources and coordinated trainings and networking for international ministries and denominations. Susan also works with individuals to assess writing goals and edits books and resources in preparation to meet those goals. Susan lives with in central Illinois with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters in college. Susan loves dark chocolate and long walks, especially when her toes are in sand! You can follow Susan on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter. One of Susan’s favorite verses is Hebrews 10:24: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. She loves that God gives her opportunities to live out his will in her life every day!"

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