Call For Backup!

“Help! Somebody call for backup!”, his little voice squealed as he stood there with a silly grin on his dirty face.  

We had been picking green beans at a little farm while our grand boy was visiting us. We hadn’t been stooped over the luscious green plants for more than ten minutes when we heard this added to the call for backup: 

“Oh! My bay-ack, my bay-ack!” 

My husband and I turned to look at him, then we chuckled a bit. There he stood, with good ole, Georgia farm dirt smeared across his face. He smiled that playful, silly grin he has as he shielded his squinted eyes from the warm sunshine. His white, gallon-size bucket had a good amount of freshly pulled green beans for a little guy who had been giving it his all for several minutes. Especially for one whose back was hurting, mind you!

We continued filling our buckets and would frequently holler out, “We need some backup!” It became a game and we laughed as Kyler would bend forward with his hand holding his back. He’d holler out then stand up, laugh and smile. 

Today, I was thinking about that episode...and how true it often is. I’m not sure about you, but there are many times in the past when I wanted to cry out for backup. That’s one of the funny things about dealing with grief and depression - sometimes the words just won’t surface. Sure, we’re hurting and need someone’s help, but life sometimes paralyzes us. And, sadly, sometimes the only cry we can whisper goes unheard by the people busy picking green beans. 

I’m reminded today of the verses in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-11

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?”

Someone had realized the importance and necessity of having some “backup”, don’t you think?

Are you hearing what I’m writing? We ALL need someone in our lives who will be there when life gets rough, when we get weak, or fall down. It’s very rare that two companions, whether friends or spouses, be down at the same time. I think God orchestrates all this and brings balance so one person can indeed help the other one up. 

We need each other! We’ll all have our times of neediness. We’ll also all have our times to step up to the plate and provide support for someone else. After all, good relationships are give and take. 

While my little critter’s verbal antics had us in stitches that sunshiny day, how many people are crying out around us? Who in your life needs backup? Or maybe it’s you? 

It’s easy to overlook and say we don’t have time, but after you’ve been in their shoes, it’s easier to understand the seriousness and the need for compassion. 

As I’ve said before, we’re under-educated on this topic. It’s even taboo to mention it in some arenas of life. We aren’t taught how to respond correctly to someone who is in the dark places of life. That’s unfortunate! Especially, when Jesus taught us through His actions to reach out, to touch, and to love. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to take a moment to ask God for wisdom and read up on being a safe and helpful companion to someone who is depressed, dealing with sickness or relationship issues, etc.  Our world is made up of hurting people. Just look at all that’s going on in the news today! Let’s extend ourselves a bit more, showing concern and compassion more readily. 

We can’t touch everyone, but there are those among us who could use our encouraging words, a smile, or any number of other small, effective gestures. We aren’t an island to ourselves! Let’s be responsible companions, lifting each other up, and warming each other’s hearts. We are commanded in the Word to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our neighbor is anyone who’s looking back at us. Let’s be someone’s “backup” today. It just takes a little time and effort. We aren’t heroes, but we are called to be backups. 

Whatcha think?  We could be the difference in someone’s today and their hope for tomorrow. Sometimes the load of life gets heavy, let’s listen out for, “My bay-ack! My bay-ack!” Is there someone in our path today calling out for backup? Will we offer a helping hand or turn the other way?