I Will Accept Your Help

He approaches me from the back of the bus and motions to the bag on my shoulder, the tripod in my left hand, and the hefty camera case in my right.  "Please, let me carry that for you."

We're headed in the same direction -- the same classroom, to be exact.  This particular student of mine extends a polite greeting each morning and offers a thank you, professor at the conclusion of every class -- even the boring ones -- without fail.  His college experience will be split in half this summer when he returns to his home country to fulfill a two-year mandatory military service, and then he'll return to complete his credits and graduate.

I'm so accustomed to doing things myself that I almost decline his offer, but I get my wits about me, accept, and gratefully hand over the bulky tripod.  As we walk to class together I'm aware of how much lighter my load is when another person carries a portion of it for me.

Too often I shirk opportunities to let people help me, falling into my default responses.  No, you don't need to bring anything.  It's okay, I'll take care of it.  Don't worry, I've got this covered.

It's much more graceful to accept help when help is needed.

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7 comments

  1. smoothstonesFebruary 17, 2012

    Or most any gift, when it's offered. Earlier this week, I took my kids to the adult home, and our friend Luther gave each of my kids a dollar. It bothered me, a little, but I'll figure out a way to pay it back in brownies, and it was obviously something he wanted to do from a place of love...

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  2. Accepting help is one of the hardest things to do. I had to accept help last night and it almost made me feel guilty, which was ridiculous since the person was happy to do it. While independence is a great thing, being independent with too much pride isn't. Great post.

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  3. Thanks for this post.  It's a good reminder for me.  I like to be in control, I like to be independent, but you're right, it's more graceful to accept help.  I need to learn to be more gracious.

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  4. I know!  Why is it that we feel guilty for accepting assistance that is so clearly being graciously offered?  I think we're both learning.  (And good for you for accepting help the other night.)

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  5. That's nice of him. It makes me happy when my students offer to help me the gazillion of things I usually bring to my classroom.

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  6. Danielle CooperFebruary 20, 2012

    So true, great post. If we all have the opportunity to serve one another then there be less anger, less arguments and more kindness.

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