Tip of My Iceberg

Four boys over five days. In the midst of miserable heat and lots of rain. Boys who are used to being outside all the time, running wild and free among fields planted with soybeans and corn.

I love these four boys. They bring a newness that is fun and funny, with personalities that are unique and interactions among the four of them that reflect the level of competition they operate in.

Everything is a contest.

I’ve managed to raise six children, so I understand chaotic circumstances and disagreeable attitudes. It has been a few years, however.

It’s not as easy as it once was years ago.

I needed help.

Isley, at thirteen, is a remarkable babysitter. She’s more responsible than many much older, and she’s playful as well. She’s always been one who could relate up or down, no matter the age of others in the room.

Naturally, I called on her for help.

She helped build a cup city and stacked cups for the kids to run through in planned destruction.

Times have changed, and I might have been able to do a better job with these boys years ago, but I needed help this time around.

There have been times in my life where I’d hesitate to ask for help. I was brought up to be resilient and self-reliant. Great character qualities, but they don’t leave room for need.

We’re all needy, though we hesitate to admit it. We worry what others will think of us if they know we don’t have it together.

Neediness is part of being human–we are not self-sustaining creatures; we live in a world populated by humans as needy as we are. Admitting we need help feels wrong, and yet it’s how we are created–to interact with one another for the good of all.

Paul reminded us:

“Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” Galatians 6:2-3

We’ll always have the poor and needy among us. It’s part of a broken world where inequality is the norm. The best attempts at making life fair don’t work. It’s why we need to help each other.

And be aware of how God helps us. He is our present help. Always.

“But You are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.” Isaiah 25:4

Refuge is what we all need at different times in life–a place of rest, shelter, and safety. God provides that for us–His presence gives us power to persevere, and His grace protects us from the lies of the world.

Neediness isn’t bad. It’s the reminder of how we are better working with others. Allowing others to positively impact us.

There will always be those who will seek to strike us down.

God has provided Himself and others to support us no matter what our circumstances.

Neediness is a badge of courage–it demonstrates we recognize we’re not all that.

Even if that’s hard to admit.