To Swallow One’s Pride

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Our pride is something that most of us hold onto dearly.  We will take a lot of stress and not show our vulnerability in hopes to keep our pride intact.

We even go out of our way to try and help others even when we ourselves need help also.  We tend to keep our hardships to ourselves, and contend with it alone.

I myself, have seen some in need through the years and without some speaking a word, I did what i could to help.  Be it giving a poor man out on the street a burger, or a child $5 to help buy their mom a gift when they did not have enough, or and older woman an extra buck at the grocery store when not enough to buy milk.

I believe that a lot of the human race has helped someone in one way or another, with some sort of human kindness, without asking for anything in return.  When we have a National Disaster, be it a Flood, Earthquake, Tornado, or any disaster which may lead to ones in need, we as a whole, rally to help in whatever way we can, if we can.

How many have given a can or two of food to help feed a family, when you yourself, are low on food.  How many have loaned a dollar, when it was your last one.  How many, have gone without, to help someone else in need?

Now, think about it, how many of us out there have kept quiet, and to ourselves, and not let others know, not even your friends, when you were in need of help yourself!  You hold onto that pride you have inside, and you think, I don’t need help, rather, you say to yourself, I won’t ask for help, I’m too proud to do that.

The times are tough everywhere right now.  There are not enough jobs, thousands are being laid off, some who are highly skilled are willing to take a large pay cut so that they can feel their families.  I know there has been worse times in the past, but I have to say, this is the worst I have ever seen in my lifetime so far.

Our pride keeps us from asking for help, to stop and think for a moment that is is alright to be needy sometimes.  We tend to think, we always have to be strong, to not show that we are weak, and to not let others think less of us.  That pride can stand inside us, to wear, it can end up wearing us down in the long run.

A new parent will struggle with work and not sleeping instead of asking a family member to come over and let them sleep an hour.  A single mother, will make sure that her childrren eat, even if it means she goes without some days.  A proud parent will not let their child see that they are in need, and let them know just how bad things are at times, not wanting to make the child feel bad or be discouraged.

There are so many ways one might need help.  It could be food, clothes, medicine, a blanket to cover themselves on a chilly night, or someone to watch the kids for 15 minutes while they take a much needed cat nap.

But our pride, keeps us from asking for just a little bit of help, because we feel it is beneath us to ask, or that it makes us feel like a charity case, and then we feel discouraged about what others will think of us.  As we don’t want anyone to know,  we have fallen, and need help to get back on our feet.

The donations we do each and every year, the help we have given in one way or another to someone, it is not to make the ones we are helping feel bad about themselves, it is instead, a little bit of help until they get back on their own feet.  So we need to sometimes swallow our pride, and to ask for help.  Don’t feel that you are a charity case, as the one who may help you  does not think that way of you.

That is what communities and humanity is all about, helping one another.  Local churches sometimes help with bags of food and clothing.  A friend might buy you a gallon of milk.  A family member would gladly babysit for an hour while you get some much needed sleep.

Just swallow your pride, and ask for help!