If your family were to come on hard times, or were beset by a tragedy, or were somehow incapacitated, what would you do? How would function? How would you care for yourself or the others in your family?
I’m asking you, dear Internet, because you need people. You need call-you-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night friends. You need drop-your-kids-off-at-the-last-minute friends. You need here’s-dinner-and-a-few-bags-of-groceries friends. You need friends with perspective. You need friends who speak the hard-to-hear truth. You need friends who still adore your husband even when you bitch and moan about all the frustrating things he does.
When someone in my community of friends puts out the Bat Signal, more than enough help comes. I have sent out my share of Bat Signals, and I have answered the call of it, as well. Truth be told, I can’t imagine my life without these faithful around me, who believe in the need to help each other.
So I ask you, faithful reader, because I care: Are there people who will answer your Bat Signal? Do you trust in your community enough to put out your own Bat Signal? Are you paying attention to the Bat Signals calling for your help?
Because life is too hard to live alone.
Amen.
Wow, to read this today was amazing. After a VERY DIFFICULT Tuesday and then a tough therapy session last night talking about Tuesday, the realization that I need exactly what you wrote about hit home. So now to figure out how to reach out to those around me to be there for them and to trust them to be there for me. Thank you!
I think I actually do have a couple of people like this in my life. However, I think my issue would be whether or not I’d be open to asking for help from them. It’s something to think about and work on, though. And something to maybe mention to these friends. Thanks for making me think about this.