My heart is heavy today. Perhaps it’s a feeling that’s been building—on a personal level, there are some daunting choices about Gage’s care, but in a global respect, the ways people’s lives are being wrecked by natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes is simply heartbreaking. And now, with the tragedy in Las Vegas this week, the floodgates have opened. It seems I can’t listen to the radio or watch news coverage on TV without bursting into tears. A choked up DJ reminded listeners this morning that it’s important to feel those feelings and not suppress them, so I’m letting the tears (and sobs) flow.
I just caught a short segment on The Today Show that quoted Mr. Rogers. I’ve heard it shared before, in the aftermath of other tragedies and in the midst of what seems like the worst of times. He says “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” This may offer a bit of comfort during tragic times, because it proves true over and over again. Disaster has a way of bringing out the best of people—people doing everything they can to get complete strangers to the hospital or coming out in droves to donate blood. But this important reminder from Mr. Rogers can apply in to our day to day lives as well.
It hit home for me, because although we face some unique challenges as a family – things others don’t typically have to deal with – we can also lean on an incredible support system. Sometimes our “helpers” are close friends and family, lending a hand or just an ear. Other times, help comes from complete strangers. I rely heavily on close girlfriends to make it through tough times. I got a chance to meet with a few of them over the weekend and we all shared from our hearts and lifted each other up—much needed and so refreshing. During our conversation, we talked about how when you look like you need help, people are more likely to help you. There’s no point in trying to pretend we’ve got it all together.
Twice a week, I’m on a college campus with my two boys for Gage’s feeding therapy. While I’d like to think I’ve got things totally under control, in reality I’m usually struggling to get Gage strapped safely into his chair, Caleb is wiggling out of my arms and I’m sporting sweat pants and a messy bun of unwashed hair. This is the norm for me, and nothing I get worked up about, but let’s face it…I look like a hot mess. Luckily, there are good people in the world and especially at Missouri State University! College students go out of their way to open doors for us and wait patiently for the extra time it takes for me to maneuver my boat of a stroller in and out of the building. Gage and Caleb almost always make new friends in the waiting room or hallways because friendly people are willing to share smiles or play peekaboo, rather than keep their noses stuck in a magazine or cell phone. It’s so heartening to witness compassion from others, even in the smallest ways.
When things seem bleak, whether in our own little world or on a national scale, let’s take Mr. Rogers advice and remember to look for the helpers. Help might be manifested in kindness from a stranger or support from friends, but I also know where my help ultimately comes from—an almighty God who’s in control and is constant in the midst of every challenge, struggle or tragedy we face. The verse speaking to my heart today comes from 2 Corinthians. It reminds me that God pours grace into our lives, and that we don’t need to pretend we’ve got it all together and everything is perfect. Instead we can boast about our weaknesses. It’s ok to look like we need help, but we also need to remember to look for the helpers.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9