by Kerry L. Marsala
Just recently Diane had been involved in a serious automobile accident
in a town far from her own. The pain from her injuries left her completely
enshrouded in anguish. The pain left her feeling a sense of deep loneliness.
She felt she'd been forgotten.
One morning when Diane was feeling particularly
despondent and in great agony from her injuries an old friend came
to visit her in the hospital. Her friend hugged her and held her hand.
Gently stroking Diane's forehead, her friend told her she shouldn't
be alone when she leaves the hospital to go home and recover. "Let
me come pick you up when the doctors say you can leave and I'll take
you to your home where I can tend to your injuries till you're strong
enough," said Diane's friend. Pride was in Diane's way though and
she said no that she'd be just fine.
In the weeks that followed the
words of Diane's friend rang in her ears. She knew she needed to swallow
her pride and call to ask for help.
After a couple of days of trying
to go it alone after her release from the hospital, Diane finally
called her friend and took her up on her offer. It was the door that
Diane needed to open to heal herself, not only physically but emotionally
as well. Her friend came to stay with her for as long as she needed
her to. Together they read a chapter from the Bible daily and prayed.
They prayed not only for each other's needs, but for the needs of
others.
The days quickly went into weeks and the weeks into months
and Diane finally was well enough to care for herself. The bond between
the two friends had grown and both of them spiritually had blossomed.
Diane didn't feel so alone in her loneliness any longer. She had opened
the door to letting another help her carry her burdens.
Christ never
asks us to bare our burdens alone. He is there for us, but so are
others if we will only let them in. You never have to go it alone;
everyone has the right to ask for help. Swallowing our pride to ask
another for assistance may not only change our perception of being
alone, but it may be just what the other person needs and is searching
for as well. Step out of self- ask a friend for help. Two are always
better at carrying life's loads.
"Do not forsake your own friend or
your father's friend, nor go to your brother's house in the day of
your calamity; better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."
Proverbs 27:10
