So often, I don’t ask for help because I’m afraid I’ll look stupid for not knowing the answer or for needing help. How many are with me on that? (I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. If I am, I feel REALLY stupid now! So please humor me for this brief post!). 😳 But we had a little episode recently that made me rethink my position on the “Ask or Don’t Ask” debate.
A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I were staying in a motel on our vacation. Motel beds have come a long long way in the past twenty years, and I had enjoyed a wonderful night’s sleep the previous night. Alas, morning came, along with the need to get ready and mosey down the road. My sweet husband offered to get up and start my bath water. I “let” him! (Yep, I’m a spoiled, and blessed, wife!) I heard him fiddling with the water for quite a while before I heard him announce, “I have some really bad news, Sweetie!” Ugh!
After a moment’s hesitation, I braved the question: “What?”
His answer took away all desire to climb out from under the sheets. “We have no hot water!”
Another pause. “Really?”
A quick “Yep.”
Another question to prove I was not dreaming, “Are you sure?” Silence.
As I awaited a verbal response, hoping for a different answer, I watched him emerge from the bathroom and head for the room phone. Of course, I asked the next obvious question. “What are you doing?”
“Calling the front desk.”
“Why? If ours is out then I’m sure everyone’s is out! I’m sure they can’t fix it in just our room!” My response was a direct result of wanting to protect my husband from embarrassing himself. Honest!
I heard him speak with the front desk and confirm that a maintenance man would be right up. I dug deeper under the covers. It was a very embarrassing moment I awaited, realizing that the handyman was making an unnecessary trip and poor Jon was going to feel stupid. It was a dumb request, wasn’t it? Are you still with me on this?
Well, the very kind Mobile, Alabama, maintenance fellow arrived at the door. I pretended to not exist. It was my husband that called, not me, after all! Jon showed him the problem. Or so he thought! Then the maintenance fellow showed Jon the problem.
“Well, Sir, let me explain that this one is the hot water tap and this one is the cold water tap. You had them confused!”
At that moment, I could no longer pretend I wasn’t there! I burst into laughter! Jon, too, laughed, and thanked the man who promptly exited the room.
To be honest, we felt dumb. But the truth of the matter was that I now had hot water for my bath! Do you know why? Because I have a husband who is smart enough to ask a dumb question!
As I mulled over the experience, I began to wonder how many other comforts and provisions in life I might be missing, simply because I didn’t ask a question. The foundational cause of not asking is pride! That’s a cold, hard truth. And I am guilty! But I’m not proud of it! I’m ashamed! I continually reminded my students that there was no such thing as a “dumb question.” And it’s true! Questions can effect great results!
What does God have to say about asking? He encourages us to ask! “Ask, and it shall be given you.” (Matthew 7:7) “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:6) And lastly, consider the truth found in James 4:2, “”Ye have not because ye ask not.” What does The Lord have for me? Have I been making my requests known to Him as my Heavenly Father? Have I humbled myself and sought Him in prayer and in His Word? He has the answers, and He longs to provide for His children!
Granted, the only thing I’d have missed out on by not asking for help, by not asking for an answer, was hot water! But I truly would not have enjoyed that bath nearly as much! I’m thankful for a wise husband! And I hope the next time I’m too afraid to ask a dumb question, that the reminder of what I might be missing out on will wash the pride right out of my heart and mind. Next time, I’ll ask! I’ll just go ahead and ask!
Ironing the Preacher's Shirts 
Love it. You just explained “me” to “me”!! Linda, you ought to write a book. Your crafting a message sure puts smiles on my face! And just remember the maintenance man might not otherwise gotten some needed exercise that day!
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I am not quite into this “blogging” thing yet; but I’ll try. Even though we should and can ask God for anything, I like another verse – the one from Jeremiah 29:11-13 which states: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” How does this apply? Maybe God wanted to dent the pride a bit and give you a lighthearted start to your day! To me, these (both yours and my ) verses apply on sooo many levels – from small requests to big requests. Now you may think I am nuts; but, even if I can’t find my car keys when I need them, I pray. Sure enough the car keys show up. I have taught at least one of my daughters to do that too. So now, we never worry about finding our car keys!!!
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I have done the hot water thing also, but they had the facets labeled wrong. I have also done other silly things in hotels and didn’t ask because I haven’t stayed in hotels very often. You made me smile. I loved it.
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