Reaching Out…

This post is written to link with Five Minute Friday: write for five minutes on a one-word prompt. The prompt today is “reach.”

In this strange world of random food shortages, I was delighted to see that there were a few cartons of milk on the shelf.

Only one problem – they were right at the back and I couldn’t reach.

It’s the story of my life. Supermarkets are not designed for small people.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to climb the shelves or have a kind shop worker come to my aid, but this time there was no way to get it and no-one else in sight.

I hovered in the aisle for a couple of minutes until another customer headed in my direction. He looked tall enough to help, and, although asking strangers to help is not something I feel particularly comfortable about, I wanted that milk.

I asked if he could get one for me and he was happy to help. I marvelled at the ease with which he reached to the back of the top shelf. Then he smiled and picked up another carton for himself: “Thanks, I hadn’t seen that there. I need one too.”

It was an encouraging reminder that we need each other, that we are not meant to live life independently. He brought the height and I brought the observation skills, but by working together we both got what we needed.

It can take courage to reach out to others – either to ask for help or to offer help – but sometimes it can bring blessing on both sides.

After all, working together is how God designed life to work: “Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”” (1 Corinthians 12:20-21 NLT)

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