Receiving graciously

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another,
be compassionate and humble (1 Peter 3:8) 

I’ve now reached an age - in fact, I did a while ago - where people will occasionally offer me a seat on a crowded bus or train. It happened again last week, when I was travelling on the tube in London in the evening rush hour. At times like this I find myself reacting in one of two quite opposite ways, or maybe even both at the same time! The first is to be really grateful that there are kind people around who look out for the welfare of others, even when it inconveniences them. But the other is to think “Do I really look so old (answer, probably yes!) that someone thinks they need to do me a favour?” After all, I still walk up the left hand side of escalators when most people less than half my age just stand on the right hand side. How can they possibly feel I need helping?
 
And this got me thinking. How good am I, more generally, at accepting help and support from other people? I realise I have a strong independent streak, one that believes I can manage, I should manage, on my own. I suspect this comes from a combination of things like my generation, my upbringing and my character. But it’s not always a healthy outlook. And maybe I also distort what St Paul said, when he told the church in Philippi to “… in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” He doesn’t say never look to your own interests or avoid caring for your own needs. Indeed, it’s hard for any of us to serve others when our own life, health or concerns are in ruins. So, if pride, self-confidence or stubbornness lead us to struggling along alone rather than receiving from others, then something is sadly wrong.
 
One of the joys of being part of a caring church family is that I get to be on the receiving end of the generosity of people who use their time, experience and gifts for the good of others. Or at least I do if I give them the opportunity to do so. We may find great joy in serving others - and Jesus encourages us to do just that - but there will be particular circumstances and times in life when we need to be sensitive and gracious enough to receive from others, to recognise we can’t do, and aren’t meant to do, everything on our own, to accept our limitations. It’s not about weakness, but it may be partly about a willingness to be vulnerable. While it may be more blessed to give than to receive, sometimes I may need to let others have the chance to be blessed by serving me!
 
Prayer - Thank you, Lord, that you designed us to be in community, and to share life and faith with others. Help me to be both wholehearted in serving others and gracious in receiving from them. Amen
 
Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash