Fall is my favorite time of year. God’s palette of brilliant oranges, blazing yellows and deep reds has a lot to do with that. So does apple picking and pumpkin everything.
But fall is also my excuse to pull out a soft, fuzzy blanket I got as a gift from my son. Wrapping myself up in that blanket and sitting next to my hubby in front of a fire is a simple pleasure that I’ll never get tired of. Which reminded me…
Everyone needs wrapping up sometimes. When their thoughts are in a jumble and they can’t figure out what is what, or they’re tired, or they’re tense or worried, being wrapped up in the love and support of someone who understands them best can help them sort things out. There are a few ways to do that, but here are some of my favorites.
Prayer
Of all the ways to wrap someone up, this is the most important. We all need people around us who will constantly be praying for us. Life can be a battle and we can’t fight it alone. Going to God on behalf of someone is a way of lifting him or her up in a way we never could on our own.
For a number of years, I’ve made a practice of asking three or four people to pray for me when I’m about to embark on something new. Recently (just yesterday actually) I finished a very intense writing project. Three or four women prayed for me specifically during that time. When things got tough, God would put it on their heart to send me a word of encouragement. Or I’d reach out to them and say, “Pray like you’ve never prayed before.” I could not have done what I did without the power God’s Spirit released through those women’s prayers.
Practical help
If you’ve ever had one of those “I can hardly think” or “How am I going to make it” days, having a friend come alongside you—to cook or clean or pick up the kids from school—makes the day a little lighter and you feel squeezed a little tighter.
When our son was first diagnosed with diabetes, I spent the next month in a fog, completely overwhelmed. Our church small group wrapped us up with hands-on help. One woman put together a series of notes and small gifts for Davis and instructed him to open one every day. Those daily encouragements gave us a boost during a tough time.
Physical touch
There’s no way to overestimate the powerful effect of positive touch. A pat on the back, a quick squeeze, or even a high-five is an easy, practical way to let someone know you’re there for them and you’ve got their back (pun intended).
When I was in college, I loved taking breaks to visit my Grandma. As soon as I’d walk into the house, she’d walk over with a big smile, wrap me up in her arms and rock me back and forth, like I was eight instead of eighteen.
“It’s so good to see you,” she’d say, and all my insides relaxed, knowing that I was special to her.
God designed us to live in community. We were never meant to go it alone. So if you need to be wrapped up, say something. And if you see someone who could use a little wrapping up, don’t be embarrassed to reach out and show support and love. Giving someone a hug, sending that person a text that says “I’m thinking of you today” or a simple “How’s it going?” might just turn their day around.
I’m praying that God will wrap you up with a sense of his presence, goodness, and care.
Carol
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