Holiday’s are ALWAYS a BIG deal in our family. Not just big because it’s a holiday but big because holy crap, we have a HUGE family - minimum of 20 E-V-E-R-Y single time. And anytime you put that many people in one place it’s an ordeal. About 11-12 years ago, my family and I drove up to Indiana to see our family for Thanksgiving. One of the days there, I decided to offer to help slice up some potatoes! My Aunt and Mom gladly accepted my help and I was on my way – cuttin’ up a storm! I got to a point where…well, I’ll save you from the disgusting details, but I basically almost sliced my thumb off. It was bloody, there were tears, and it was a HUGE ordeal. More details than that is definitely not needed. (You're welcome.)

To this day, I am quite often reminded of that not so awesome moment in time – as to my beautiful Mother tends to not want me to cut things, basically ever. =) This past weekend I went to visit my Mom for Mother’s Day and we had gone to Publix to get all sorts of snacks, veggies, and of course some Sangria for our Saturday evening full of recliners, the Magic game, and movies! But as we were in the kitchen cutting up the veggies and cheese, I felt this stare coming from next to me and then this soft and sweet, “do you need help?” from my Mom. I laugh now when she does it because I know she’s just looking out for me (and doesn’t want me to cut my finger off!), and I think it’s just human nature to offer help or show concern for each other – especially those we love and care about.

There are so many ways I see people take care of me or vice versa. Whether it’s buying lunch because we know they’re struggling a bit, sending a friendly email to tell someone we’re thinking about them, or even sending ::HUGS:: through text messages – it’s all different ways that we tend to take care of each other and personally, I think it’s awesome.

But what gets to me and what is hard for me to understand is when you WANT to help and be there for someone and they won’t let you. I hate feeling helpless. HATE it. Bending over backwards to help and be there for people is how I was raised and it’s just in my blood to try to do everything within my power to put a smile on their face. But when that time comes when I’m not needed or wanted it just … I don’t know… it just feels empty. I guess everyone fights their battles and gets through things differently. And I guess all you can really do is let them know you're there for them, hope they find their clarity, and hope to see that smile on their face again really soon.