I'm Just a Guy: Raising a Son(s)Sample

Show Him Asking For Help Is Ok

For the longest time, asking for help always felt like weakness. I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s because my dad was such an innovative thinker that rarely did he need anyone to step in and assist. Somewhere along the way, I took that mindset and magnified it to the point where I cringed whenever I had to ask for help.

That changed on the last Saturday in July, when a tree fell while I was working on my farm and left me with a broken ankle in three places. Suddenly, asking for help was no longer about convenience—it was about necessity. And it’s a lesson I’m learning every day.

Now, my son sees firsthand that his dad—the guy he thought was invincible—has cracks in his armor. He’s watched me struggle with the simplest of tasks, from fixing a plate at supper to just getting around the house. But in that, I hope he also sees humility and grace. He sees my wife continually serving and checking on me. He sees his sisters stepping up to take on responsibilities in the home. And he sees his dad learning to receive help instead of resisting it.

The truth is, none of us were designed to walk alone. Even Jesus surrounded Himself with His disciples—not because He needed help, but to model that life is meant to be lived with others. Asking for help is not weakness; it's meekness. And meekness is a strength that will serve him for a lifetime.

An unexpected blessing through all this has been watching how others are encouraged when they step in to serve. From neighbors cutting our grass to friends bringing meals, people have shared joy simply by being allowed to help. That’s a lesson I pray my son carries with him—that sometimes the greatest gift you can give is to let someone else serve you. And its corollary, that sometimes the greatest gift you can give is to serve someone in need without any expectation of return.

If you struggle with asking for help, I understand. But don’t miss the opportunity to show your son what humility looks like—or to allow others the blessing of stepping into your story.

Because in the end, asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a way to walk humbly with God.

Reflection Questions:

• How do you model humility when you need to ask for help?
• When did you last let others bless you through service?