When You Need a Lift

We’ve all been there.

Tired.

Weak.

Long day.

Long week.

{Photo via Pinterest – ever feel this way? This was totally me last week! lol}

Sometimes we travel through those times smoother than others. This past couple weeks, I’m not sure I’ve been doing a very good job at it. I’ve been TIRED. And never seeming to catch up. Not on emails, or blog comments (sorry) or grading papers or sleep (what time is it right now?) My little man has been battling bronchitis. Small beans in the scheme of life, but still. Amazing how one little thing can totally throw you off isn’t it? Poor little guy was laid out for 2 weeks. I missed a week of work and the whole family was off our routine. The good news is the past few days we are slowly getting back to normal. Little man was finally able to go back to school, and I went back to work. He’ll get better, emails will get answered and papers will get graded… eventually. And yes, I reread my "Real Mom or Super Mom?" post to remind myself that there are going to be days when I just can’t do it all. {And sometimes not ANY of it.}

 


In fact a story was told to us at work today. Connecting it to this blog post may be a stretch, but it’s so motivating, it’s worth it. It reminds me that even strong people find themselves needing a lift. This is not a new story either; perhaps you’ve heard it. It was all over the news and YouTube. It’s the story of Sara Tucholsky a Western Oregon softball player. Her entire softball career (we’re talking little league, high school and college) she had never hit a home run. She was up against all-stars in her sport; it was her senior year and a tournament game at that. Up came her turn at bat and when she connected with the ball, it sailed easily over the fence giving Sara her first ever career home run!! In her excitement, she ran past 1^st base, just missing the bag with her foot. She double-backed to touch the base and in so doing tore a ligament in her knee. She immediately fell to the ground and crawled back to first base, reeling in pain, not sure what to do next. Instantly her coach began talking to the umpires. If coaches or her team mates touched Sara or carried her to home plate, she would be out of the game and her home run would not count. If they put in a pinch runner, Sara’s homerun would only count as a base hit. Sara obviously could not move herself, and it seemed that her softball career was going to end in disappointment. But then, the unexpected happened. Short stop Mallory Holtman and first baseman Liz Wallace from Central Washington, the opposing team, realized that Sara’s team couldn’t help her, but THEY could. They picked Sara up and carried her around the bases, touching her foot on each base as they passed, and carrying her home.

{Photo via buzybugspixy} 

Sara’s homerun counted! They expected to hear cheers for Sara as they crossed home plate, instead, when they looked up, they saw faces full of emotion and tears for their gracious act of sportsmanship. Western Oregon ended up winning the game that day. When asked by reporters WHY they helped the opposing team, Mallory and Liz simply said, “Because it was the right thing to do.”

For the five minute tear jerker click here.
For a 2 minute short, click here.
 
We are all going to find ourselves in times of need in our lives. And {note to self} needing help isn’t weak, it’s healthy. You never know when you might bless someone else by helping them, and if you don’t ask for help yourself, you’re taking away someone else’s opportunity to bless others. So, when it comes to these kinds of choices in life, whether I’m tired, weak, weary or winning the race; I hope I have the strength to do the right thing too; to help and be helped and understand I don't always have to do it alone.



  Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~Isaiah 40:31