We All Need Somebody to Lean On

Everything we needed to know in life we learned in kindergarten…well, almost everything. We learned the basics of numbers, letters, phonics and colors. How to spell and write our own name. We learned that sharing is caring and to treat others the way we wanted to be treated. Cleaning up was supposed to be fun and putting things back where we found them was always a good idea. We were constantly reminded to wash our hands and to say I’m sorry. We learned the importance of learning to color within the lines and sitting criss cross applesauce when it was story time. Snacks were necessary to maintain focus and have a good attitude, naps too. We learned to ask for help to get the toy off the shelf and help to open up our milk carton. Help to tie our shoes so we didn’t trip. Help to hold our pencils right. Help learning how to hold safety scissors so we could cut out shapes. And that having a friend at recess to help push you on the swing was the icing on the cake.

As we grew up, we learned how to swing on our own, tie our own shoes, put our own straw in our juice boxes, and are finally tall enough to reach the water fountain all by ourselves. Later on in life we learned more responsibility, how to drive a car to get ourselves where we needed to go. Make our own decisions and learn how to ‘adult”. There’s a sense of accomplishment and pride to no longer need the help of others like we did when we were younger and are praised for it – and rightfully so to some degree. We’ve finally become independent.

But is the “I can do it all on my own”, “I don’t need the help of others” idea really the best idea?

By nature, I am a doer, a helper. I love to jump in and help accomplish a task. It brings me joy and a sense of purpose. I often anticipate a need and meet the need before it has been voiced. I tend to keep myself busy and am always doing something. Rarely do you find me sitting doing nothing because if I am then I am not helping someone who, I believe, truly needs my help. It’s a strength, but it is also a weakness. If I am not careful or self aware, I can become stubborn and pride myself on being able to take on all the tasks, requests and needs of others on my own and not ask for help – even when I truly and desperately need it. The perception that others need me but I don’t need others is not only stubbornly independent, it is also selfish. Selfishness is not a character quality I desire. I need to re-learn some of the lessons I learned in kindergarten.

What it all boils down to this; I need you and you need me.

Needing others is not a weakness. It’s actually a strength. Instead of living independent lives, we need to learn to be interdependent. Life is more fun, less stressful and more fulfilling when we realize we are not meant to live it all on our own. Remember the Garden of Eden? God saw Adam and said it wasn’t good for him to be alone and so He made him a helpmate. A friend, a family, and a community was built upon depending on one another. It would be foolish of us to think that has changed.

Yes, we are busy. Yes, life can be hard and messy at times but that is all the more reason to need somebody to lean on!

Much love,

Jenna

3 Questions:

Do you find it hard to need others? Why or why not?
What is an area in your life that is a strength, but can also be a weakness?
In what way have you chosen independence in your day to day life?

2 Scriptures to think on:

Proverbs 17:17

John 15:12-17

1 Action/Challenge:

Running errands? Going Christmas shopping? Grabbing a quick coffee pick me up in between school drop off and pick up? Do you need help on a project around the house? Why not invite a friend or two to come along side and help you out? Two are better than one!