I have always enjoyed doing for others - taking food, visiting, helping out, etc. That is a much easier, comfortable role for me than to be on the receiving end. When I was sick I had to quickly learn that I was going to be on the receiving end. For six months I did not cook. You have to understand our family has a weird sense of humor and often times when I began to cook again, they would suggest I send out the word that I needed help. At our house we laugh through a lot but my family saw the body of Christ being the church. I had to let people drive me to appointments, sit with me, cook for us and even help me pack when our house sold. Then help me unpack after we moved. I learned many lessons being on the receiving end.
I suppose it was difficult because it meant I needed help. I was weak. We do not like to "need" others. We do not want to be weak. We do not want to be a burden. In a nutshell, it was pride. I think God wants to be able to bless us and He uses others to do that sometime. These people were truly a blessing to me. I did not cook for six month and my family had meals! Luke 6: 38, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." God does not just want us to give but He also wants us to receive!
Matthew 10: 40-41, "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward." Jesus was sending out the disciples to preach all over Israel. They were not to take any money so they would be dependent on people's help. God knows that if we need help it will keep us humble. For this reason accepting help is as good as giving help. And when we accept someone's help they get a blessing. Let's not let our pride get in the way of someone getting to be a blessing!
If we believe we can do everything we will fail. We have to trust in God. Sometimes He helps us and sometimes He helps us through other people. Asking for help or accepting help does not mean we are weak but that we are strong and wise. Looking back at having to accept help and let go of pride helped me grow. It reminds me of the saying, "for when we are weak, we are strong."