Facebook Status

This was my facebook status at one point today:

Did you know that the people that seem the strongest are usually the most sensitive?  Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time is usually the one that needs it the most? ~ Did you know the 3 hardest things to say are: I love you, I'm sorry and Help me?  Put this as your status if you agree...Not easy huh?

This was an especially poignant status for me.  It was posted by my cousin Lynn.  (*waves into cyberspace "Hi Lynn")

It reminded me a lot of my mother.  She spent a lot of time taking care of me, my sister, my dad when he was sick, and even my grandparents.  She took so much on and it was so hard for her to say she needed help.  I wish she had said a little more often.  I know she felt like she didn't have any other choice, if she didn't do it who would?

I do wonder if she would have lived longer if she'd asked for help more often, instead of always shouldering the load alone.  I have a tendency to do the same thing but I also tend to fall apart and ask for help.  I have a wonderful husband and daughter who usually know I'm about to crumble about three days before I do.  They spend those three days poking at me.  Not trying to help, not trying to get me to open up about whatever is stressing me out. Poking at me.  It sends me over the edge, I cry, I get mad, I stop talking to them.  I generally behave like an idiot.

And then I do what I should have done all along and talk to them. I am getting better about it.  I'm learning to talk before they start poking me.  I'm learning when they start poking it's time to figure out what's wrong and try to fix it rather than contemplating carrying around a rolling pin to bash over their heads.

Basically, I'm a work in progress.  And that's okay.  As long as I'm working on it.

So the next time a family member, a friend, a loved one is being incredibly strong, taking care of everyone else, maybe just reach out and take care of them for a minute.  Offer a hug, make them dinner, sit with a sick  relative or just pray for them.  You'd be surprised what a difference you might make.