Letting Others Bless Us

When I was well, I would have considered helping someone else an honor;  moreover, I still would love to be able to bless someone else, so far as I am able.  I think most of us feel that way;  however, I have had to accept help in areas that I considered my domain as a professional homemaker.  I did not want to even acknowledge I need help.  Letting go started gradually--my husband vacuuming, cooking supper, or cleaning the kitchen because I was too fatigued.  He has even done laundry.  Not that there is anything wrong about a man doing those things--it was just hard giving up my jobs on a regular basis.  I had gotten used to doing things my way.

What is going on?  Where did my furniture go?

My most recent area of giving up things that have always been my area of expertise is in the area of moving.  I have dreaded this move with a deep, stomach turning, hurting heart kind of dread.  The primary reason is my pride and knowing I could not do it myself.  In the past, I packed most of the boxes, and I even picked up boxes to stack them.  However, now I cannot pick up most boxes that I used to heave.  Also, I worried about how we were going to get everything done when we could not afford movers.

I agonized over one of my daughters and her family coming to help us move some of our things;  however, it turned out to be a  wonderful blessing.  We had a good visit; and I think the only things I cooked were a salad and a chocolate cake, which my 6 year old granddaughter helped me frost.  My daughter brought food and I bought frozen lasagna.  Hurrah for frozen foods and daughters that cook!  My son-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters helped my  husband move boxes from our attic to our new house, as well as moving some furniture and other items.  My daughter packed things, which I myself would have packed in the past.     That wore me out;  and I didn't pack anything!   In fact, I didn't pack very many boxes until this week.  I have been packing one, two, or three boxes a day, and I consider that an accomplishment. 


I am thankful that I can do more than I did two years ago, which is due to having learned to pace myself, as well as letting the guilt go.  This is one of the most important things I want to impart to you:  let the guilt go.  Carrying false guilt is debilitating physically and emotionally.   It was false guilt and pride that caused me to worry about my family helping me.  The emotional energy of feeling guilty when you should not, drains you of more physical energy;  and it pulls you down into feelings of depression.  I know because I have been there; and, it was oh so sweet when I let that icky feeling go.  In fact, I have to actively continue to let that false guilt go--to push it away.    

Finally, don't let your pride keep you from letting other people help you.  Saturday morning, men from our church are going to come and help my husband move the rest of the furniture.  I still am not quite sure what I am going to do with myself;  but, if I have to,  I am going to sit in my recliner with my feet up.  Hopefully, I will not feel a bit of guilt. 

The Bible says in Phillippians 4: 6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (NASB, 1995).   I memorized this verse as a young military wife, and I still need to continually put the wisdom of this passage into action.   So often  we pick up all our worries and try to carry them alone, but this is not what God wants for us.  God wants to give us His peace:  it is there for the asking.