I awakened in the morning, and something seemed amiss, but I couldn’t quite figure it out. Still groggy and searching for something wrong, I crept out of bed. Barefoot and still in pajamas, I ran down the stairs towards the noise – that strange noise.
My kids were still fast asleep, and my husband was out of town, so I felt I had to be the brave one.
My feet hit the cold marble floor, and to my surprise, things went splash. I took another step thinking my mind was playing a trick on me. It took a minute to register that I was standing in ankle deep water. My brain finally registered, this water had no place in the middle of my entryway.
I carefully made my way towards the noise, splashing down with every step. To my dismay, I found water spurting out of the back room toilet. I am no genius when it comes to the household repairs, but I knew I had to do something. I kicked into gear; after all, I was the only adult in the house. With water drenching my pajamas and smacking me in the face, I managed to reach to the shut-off knob and stop the direct flow.
I looked around thinking, “How could this be?” My week had been incredibly painful and now this. This was not how I expected to start my morning off; it was just plain cruel to think I could handle one more thing.
I quickly called the plumber even though it was the wee hours of the morning. As I met him at the door, my eyes had a look of desperation. My words came out with a whine, “What do I do?” One quick look around, and he knew fixing a toilet was the least of my problems.
The plumber had no actual help to give at this point and yet what he gave was so valuable. But he was kind, he was patient, and he stayed with me until I got to the next layer of help. He was determined to make me understand that
I was not alone in my messy circumstances.
So many times when someone is hurting or struggling, we feel ill-equipped to help, so we do nothing. I too am guilty of this at times. I think someone else can do it better or knows more.
On that particular day, I did not need my toilet fixed. He could have easily said, “Ma’am this job is not for me, you need to call someone else.”
Instead, he offered his presence until the next layer of help had arrived. Little did he know that I had a storm brewing in my family that was far worse than a toilet overflowing. This almost complete stranger helped me to hang on. His being there helped me not to unravel and get to the next needed step.
Most times just having someone stand with you in your unexpected circumstances is all you need. They don’t have to do much more than let you know,
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Do you have a story when someone stayed by your side? I would love to hear about it in the comments.
To continue the saga of my ankle deep water click the link: How to Find Peace in Unwanted Circumstances
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A very interesting post and I enjoyed it thoroughly !!
Yes, we all go through hard stuff until Jesus takes us home.
I was the person with a lot of severe depression and anxiety of the worst kind..very excruciatingly painful and struggled with it for a few years. I almost died from that illness…but God brought me through. At that time, I was divorced and had to take care of my only child.
I lived in a very large beautiful house, luxuriously and elegantly furnished in a fabulous upscale neighborhood. Nothing was wrong with my house. It was my mind that was unstable and I almost did not make it. I was all alone and I clung to my Christian books …and at that time, I was a baby Christian. I had a close friend but she always worked and could not be with me .
It was a very scary time in my life. God did bring people to help me including the best psychiatrists to treat my extreme depression and debilatating anxiety and for that, I am very grateful..
And for that, I am so very gtsteful
Kalyani, Thank you so much for sharing your story. That had to be hard caring for a child while struggling with such severe depression. I can’t imagine.
I am so glad you were able to get the help you needed, both through people, God, and Psychiatrists. Please keep sharing your story because people that are suffering and their families need to hear it. You offer HOPE through your lived experience.
Have a wonderful day!
Maree
Such a wonderful post, Maree Dee! I have chosen your post as my feature this week. be sure to stop by and get the “I was featured” button. Thanks for faithfully linking up on Grace and Truth.
Aimee – Thank you I feel so honored to be chosen. Maree
I’m glad God sent you a patient, understanding person in a difficult situation. I can put myself in your shoes…but I hope my house isn’t flooded when I wake up tomorrow morning!
Beautifully said, Maree! We need each other and often it’s just another person’s caring presence that helps to get us through. Lifting you up in prayer as I type these words! God bless you!
Thank you for your prayers. I, in turn, am lifting you up in prayer. Praying you have blessed day. Recently I have been on the flip side where all I have been doing is being present for someone. I struggle with it being enough yet my own words say it is. Maree
Yikes, Maree! I’m excited to check out the new post! You’ve pulled me in:)
Visiting from #Faith’nFriends
Julie – I am so glad the title pulled you in. I hope you like the post. Maree
Thank you for an awesome reminder that sometimes all a person needs from us as human beings is just being with them.
You are so welcome. I too need to be reminded of that. Maree
Wow Maree, that’s so perfect for the quote on the #ChasingCommunity linkup today. — And, amen. We all need to know we’re not alone, that someone will come alongside us in our messy times. Just the very fact that we’re not alone can be so comforting. ((hug))
Yes, I didn’t realize the quote did match the post. THank you for pointing it out. I visited your site, and it is a perfect match. Yes, know we are not alone can do wonders even if the person can’t do a thing but be with us. . Have a great weekend. Thank you for the link-up. Maree
This was a great reminder that we don’t always have to “DO” something to help someone. Just being “present” can be the bridge of hope that we need to get to or through the next “thing”. Thank you for the reminder… Priceless!
So true. I know for me in my quest to help I always feel more comfortable if I am actually doing something. Always strange what I like I don’t always do. My desire for help would aways be presences over having something done for me.
This was beautiful. Brought tears to my eyes thinking about how that particular person on that difficult day and time in your life was able to do so much for you that he probably to this day has no clue how much of an impact he had on you. Reminds me of not only the people who have been that person in my own life and stood by me through life’s ups and downs but reminds me that I myself can be that person for someone. Hearing that for you it was so simple as the plumber staying with you until the next person arrived makes me think about the people in my own life and people I interact with on a daily basis throughout life. Makes me more aware as to how I can be THAT person for someone else if I slow down in my own life and take the time to just do something simple and let them know I am there for them.
That is so true he probably never knew how much he helped. Just like most of the time, we never know how much we help others with the little things we do. What I learned is what I think is little just may be huge in another’s life. I know for me it is a constant challenge to slow down and notice those around me. I got a hunch you stop and help quite a few people.