(Floral wreath from Angie Makes)
The Art of Homemaking: Do you need help?
Story #1
“Do you need help?” we (my husband and I) called out the window one day after lunch last week.
We were coming back from a lunch date and found a young girl sitting on the curb and puzzling over a gas can.
“I can’t get the nozzle on this gas can and I’ve run out of gas.” She replied.
“Let me do it.” My husband replied. Man, do I feel lucky to have him.
Story #2
Last Saturday a hang glider crashed (or badly landed) in our backyard. Well, not really our backyard….but the empty fields behind our house. (Sounds super fake but it is absolutely a true story.) I first noticed it while I was doing the dishes and sent all the kiddos to look out the upstairs windows to see if anyone was hurt. And so instead of running upstairs, the 4 year old runs out to the back deck, cups his hands around his mouth and starts yelling in his loudest voice, “ARE YOU OKAY? DO YOU NEED HELP?” The man waved back that he was fine and a few minutes later some most-likely friends came to help him pack up the hang glider and they were gone within thirty minutes.
But both those stories have stuck with me all weekend. I remember being so embarrassed every time my dad would pull off the side of the road to ask people if they needed help. And now as a grown up, it makes me proud that the four year old would run out to the deck to help.
It’s even found in one of my favorite Primary songs, “Help others on their way.” And I need to do more of it. I need to do more of sticking my head out the window, more yelling to a hang glider pilot, and more opening my eyes to find small ways to help all around me.
So, this week my goal for the art of homemaking is to “Help others on their way.” I’ve talked about it with the kids and next Sunday night during family night we are going to list all the ways we have helped others this week. I am hoping that it will be one of those learning moments for all of us. And although I think it’s more for me than them, I hope just a little bit sinks in for them too.
~Elizabeth
Just last week at Costco I asked a lady if she needed help sliding a big box into her car. No was her reply. Everyone thinks I can’t do it myself. It made me sad. It wasn’t that I didn’t think she could do it by herself, just that I need to see things outside of myself that I can help with, and then do what I can. A different lady in the parking lot didn’t ask if she needed help, she just went over.
I love the idea of helping. But I need to get outside my own little world and just start doing something. Little as it might be, something is better than nothing.
I had the same experience with a biker laying along his bike on the side of the road this week. I genuinely thought he was hurt, but he was using a wrench to fix something and said he was fine. I am talking myself that it’s the asking that’s helping me….it’s the thought….even if they day yes or no 😉
I often find myself trying to help. I find I keep an eye on people sometimes, to make sure they are OK. A few weeks ago an older lady was sitting funny in her car, half-on, half-off the street. I kept watching in my rearview and she didn’t leave. I prepared to turn around and when I did I saw a police car! “Perfect timing” I told him as I flagged him down. It appeared all was well as I watched from the side street. My most memorable time was about 7 years ago. I saw an old man with his wife at the library. His car wouldn’t start. His son was not reachable on my phone. I offered to take him and his wife home. His wife had Alzheimer’s and talked to my daughter over and over about her shoes. When I left them at their home the man tried to pay me. He was adamant. I was adamant! I didn’t want to be disrespectful, but I had to refuse. I started tearing up and told him it is not often I get a chance to help someone out and I really couldn’t take the money. (I just really had the need to HELP and not receive anything in return.) I also had to talk to my girls about helping others, but making SAFE choices! Thanks for sharing your story.
Kristin, love those stories….they had me tearing up ;). And you are exactly right they need to be “safe choices” to help. I never thought of including that with my kids…but I am now. Thank you!!!!
This may be a bit long but I am not known as “one of few words”. Being aware of your surroundings and not checking your email or letting your mind wander (as mine does with or without my permission) can make those opportunities to help so much more obvious. My husband is the most observant person I have ever known, always holding the door (I am used to waiting for a throng of shoppers to enter before he will come into the store), watching over the elderly and small children (those left unattended or even if Mom is glancing away while the little one decides to stand in the seat of a shopping cart…he is so protective of those in need or possible unseen danger). He has made me such a better person for it too as I find myself watching and offering to help if I think I can. Being a tall person at the grocery store almost always gives me the opportunity to offer my service in reaching top shelf items and I also catch myself asking befuddled shoppers what they are looking for and going on the hunt together…I know I have had days where a friendly face amongst frustration made things oh so much better! I remember as a youngster, being embarrassed when Mom would talk to strangers but I guess I did not fall far from her tree! I am one that enjoys visiting with another chatty person and who knows? Maybe they needed to be acknowledged or feel noticed or just to chat like me… So in a way, helping them really helps me. Go me!!
Remind me of the title of the song. I knew I recognized the line, but I can’t place it and it’s bugging me.