Hidden Help
 

Hidden Help
"I will come to rescue you."
2 Samuel 10:11
When my husband Harley and I were in the market for a car, I came up with a bright idea, or so I thought. "Let’s get a stick shift," I suggested. "They’re priced lower."

"But we don’t know how to drive a manual shift," he replied.

"We’ll learn!" I said.

Our friend drove the car home for us and gave us about two hours of instruction. After that, we were on our own. For days, Harley and I just stared at the new car and drove the automatic rental car we had. But one day I finally announced, "I’m driving the stick to the market."

"Are you sure?" my husband asked. "It’s hilly on Route 59."

"I know," I said. "But it’s time to start getting used to this new car." I drove to the market and back, stalling only once on "hilly Route 59." When I got home, I told Harley triumphantly, "I did great!"

"I know you did," he said, smiling. Then he admitted, "I followed you to make sure you were all right."

"Did you?" I said, poking at him playfully. We both laughed.

Later, I thought about Harley’s behind-the-scenes help. He had quietly provided a support for me I didn’t know I had. Then the thought came: how could I provide someone with "hidden help"? There was Karin who was moving to another state; I could offer to help her with her packing. I could keep in constant prayer for a co-worker’s husband who recently had a severe heart attack. And something small: whenever I finish using the car, I could adjust the seat for Harley’s longer legs.

Who needs your support today? A neighbor, a friend, a child, a spouse? In what small way can you offer some "hidden help"? It just might lift their spirit, and I bet yours, too.
by Robin White Goode