During the height of my athletic career, I experienced a major injury that sent me straight to the sidelines. I wasn’t just out for the rest of the season; I was totally out. It was going to take me a long time to recover. To top it off, I needed help. I couldn’t take care of my basic needs. I couldn’t do my household chores, which always seemed to give me a sense of responsibility. I couldn’t focus on my homework, which gave me a sense of direction. I couldn’t even get dressed without needing assistance. I felt hopeless.
As an American, I grew up believing that I was supposed to be able to take care of myself. I thought I was supposed to be independent. I was taught that I could do anything I set my mind to. I watched stories on TV and in the movies of people overcoming their own personal obstacles and injuries. I felt like I was supposed to do the same. So, I dug my heels in and refused help. I told myself I could do it, and I was determined to take care of things on my own. I knew in my mind that if I had the determination, I would grow stronger and heal quicker by being able to do things myself.
The Reality of Needing and Getting Help
Months passed by, and I didn’t seem to get any better. I wasn’t getting worse, but I was feeling defeated. I didn’t have anything to show for all my effort. What was going on? I was suffering, and I wasn’t willing to admit it.
Then, one of my friends told me she was going to come over every afternoon and sit with me and help me with my homework. I didn’t refuse. I didn’t know how to refuse. In the back of my mind, I thought it would be nice to have someone to hang out with. Maybe we would just catch up on our favorite shows and eat yummy snacks.
The first day she showed up, she was ready to work. She got all her school supplies out and gathered everything I would need. We sat on my bed and she had a list of all the assignments we were going to finish that night. We jumped right in, no chit chat, no distractions. Just focused work. When I didn’t understand something or needed help working on the assignment, she was there, ready to break it down or help do it for me. Rather than feeling helpless, I felt relieved. When the night was over, I had finished all my homework assignments as well as caught up on a few make-up projects. I got the best night sleep since the injury happened. I woke up in the morning with a sense of rejuvenation and peace.
Getting Help and Healing
My friend stuck to her promise, she came over every afternoon to help with my homework. Soon, mom was helping me get dressed in the morning. She would even do my hair and makeup, which became an awesome time to talk about what I was feeling. My brother even offered to help with some of my household chores. It wasn’t long, and I had a whole team of people helping me with various tasks and basic needs.
Next thing I knew, I wasn’t experiencing as much pain. I was still injured, but I could tell that I was healing. I didn’t feel as stressed. I didn’t feel as hopeless. Once I accepted help, the help came, and it relieved me of a lot of unnecessary pressure.
The Reality of Community
It didn’t take me long to realize that this was a perfect example of how God intends for us to live in community. I had been taught numerous times that God created us to be in relationship with one other, but this is really what it meant to be a part of a community. We’re supposed to rally together. We’re supposed to help and support one another. When someone’s in need, we’re supposed to be there for them. That’s part of what it looks like to be a servant. When we are in need, we need to accept help. That is part of what it looks like to be blessed. When we refuse to accept help or deny the opportunity to support someone in need, we’re rejecting what God intends for us to experience and understand as His beloved children.
Now, whenever I’m in need – whether it’s a small minor task, or a major chore, I’m not afraid to accept the help. More so, I sometimes even ask for the help. I’ve realized that it’s a blessing to have the help and an honor to help.
When I was fully healed, I was able to reciprocate the support I received. I knew that people were against the idea of receiving help, just like I had been, so I placed myself in situations where my help could not be refused. My relationships with the people who helped me, or who I have helped, have been tremendously strengthened! My understanding of God and faith in Him has also grown. Accepting help was a big lesson. But, it’s one that I’m glad I’ve learned and am grateful for the opportunity to teach others the necessity of being a part of God’s community.
