I've Fallen, but My Friends Helped Me Up

On Monday, I turned 53. The turn wasn't too significant to me, but I notice in my 50s I need more rest, I need to slow down, and I need to take on less. Because I like to stay busy, my plate is full, so it's not super surprising that I got distracted while walking and talking with my friends this week and found myself sprawled on the sidewalk after a divot in the asphalt caught my foot.

Momentarily stunned, I did a quick body check:

Is anything broken?

Did I hit my head?

Am I bleeding anywhere?

My colleague, Alison, leaned down and so sweetly asked, "Are you okay? It's okay to cry?"

Julie said, "Yeah, and you fell so gracefully!" Well, I'm grateful for that!

After I did a little self-check, Julie and Alison helped me up off the ground. A couple of steps didn't result in any pain or another fall, so we continued on our way. I examined my elbow while we walked (obviously, not immediately deterred from multitasking), which sported a pretty substantial scrape, and lifting my pantleg, I discovered a similar pattern of sidewalk scrape on my right knee. Well, some minor bumps and bruises, but I felt confident I would survive.

Not only was God's shield around me, I was in the company of people who cared about me and were willing to help me.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor; if either of them falls down, one can help the other up..."

One of the themes of Ecclesiastes emphasizes the mutual benefits of friendships. As Christians, the support we receive from fellow Christians is critical for our faith walk. My situation in this case is literal, but there are many other times when I have relied on my friends for emotional support, advise, and help with other areas of my life. Also, I am usually quick to return the favor.

So, I laughed when I fell instead of crying. Not because I wasn't hurting but because I was grateful; grateful not to have broken any bones, grateful I didn't crack my head on the sidewalk, and most of all, grateful my friends were there to help me up when I stumbled.

Friends, Julie and I are excited to get back to blogging and to see you at the women's events planned for this season! If you are in the area, I hope you will join us in food, fun, faith, and fellowship this October. Check out our lineup of events this season!

Yours in Christ,

Michelle