Keep it Real Wednesday
June 15, 2022
Can I give you a hand?
A few weeks ago, I was attempting to save a pan of burning butter in the kitchen and had a slight mishap with a floor and a wall.
The result was a severely sprained ankle with some ligaments that tore from the bone but thankfully it was not broken.
The suggestion was to use crutches and stay off of it as much as I could. But truth be told, I am accident prone and crutches, well, that’s just another accident waiting to happen. A few years ago, I had a broken ankle and had to use a scooter and I crashed the scooter.
So, I have opted to not use crutches, knowing it might take a bit longer to heal and just be wise with my ankle by keeping it wrapped and limping along.
Naturally, the sprain has slowed me now and a limp is going to be evident for a while, but it will heal like anything else.
What I want to share with you today is not really about the butter burning or the sprained ankle, it is about an interesting interaction at the grocery store.
I was leaving the local grocery with probably 3 bags in each hand (because I was too stubborn to grab a cart) and limping along with my wrapped ankle to my car. Out of nowhere a man appeared, likely in his late 30’s or early 40’s and said “Ma’am, can we give you a hand?” I looked up and saw his kind face and hand outstretched to me to help carry my bags which warmed my heart. What touched me even more was the 10-year-old young man beside him who was no doubt being taught this kindness from his father.
So, what did I do?
I said, “No thank you, I’m fine, I am parked close and can manage”. The stranger asked again “You sure? And I replied, “yes, of course, I am fine”
When I got in the car I cried. Not because my ankle hurt, or someone called me ma’am, but it was more than that.
I cried over my pride. I put my pride before the opportunity this man was teaching his son to help another human being. There was a real-life lesson for this child right in front of him and I denied him an opportunity to help.
I know it’s hard to accept help sometimes whether it is a sprained ankle or help as a caregiver but sometimes the help is about more about giving than receiving. If we do not receive, how do people learn to give?
Next time, I will say YES, PLEASE and praise the young man for his help.
Lesson learned.
