Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.

1 Peter 4:10 (NCV)

I visited my grandgirlies a couple of weeks ago. Normally, one of Mark’s kids will come and stay with him when I travel but this time they were all busy. So I put together a list of needs for both him and Rusty for the five days I would be gone. Neighbors and friends volunteered to take him to lunch, walk the dog, and come by for a visit. (He was actually bored when I got home after all that attention.)

I knew that I could drive myself to the airport but decided to see if I could get a couple of rides to make it easier. I asked one of my friends who is a deaconess at church if they had a list of people who had offered to drive when needed.

She said they didn’t have a list and then asked me what I needed. I gave her the details and she said she would be happy to drive me. Immediately, I tried to give her excuses as to why she didn’t need to do it; she lived far from the airport, it would take a lot of her time, and I could find someone closer.

She put her hand on my arm and said, “Don’t you mess with my blessin’.” I stopped, realized what I was doing, and replied, “Thank you.”

It is always much easier for me to give than to receive. I realized that my need for control and lack of humility was getting in the way of blessings for both of us. She taught me a valuable lesson that day. It’s OK to ask for help and then receive it graciously.