The Value of Supporting Others

I have long (27 years) lived a life in need of support.  Support from family and friends.  It’s not always come in ways I thought of, and sometimes it’s not even come at all.  Through the years, I’ve had to lean on others and God to help me get through the trying times in my life.   I often take for granted that others should support what I do, and what I want to achieve, but that isn’t always the case.  It’s been tough to accept and learn when those I thought would support me have let me down.

I looked up the meaning of support and I’m going to take the time to break out these meanings so that we can glean some value from the definitions given by dictionary.com.

1.      to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for.

• I’ve had many loads in my life as everyone does.  No one can make it through life without ever experiencing tough times.  In these times, when I’ve been overwhelmed and ready to give up, God has given me someone to help me bear my burdens.  (Example:  When my grandmother was dying, my Granddad and I shared the burden or load of taking care of her.)

• God wants to carry our loads for us.  He wants us to rest in him and make them his so we can get through life without stressing out, but to do that we have to trust him.  It’s often very hard for me to do this b/c I have a nack for wanting to take things into my own hands and control them. (Example:  I’d like to march my brother right to a divorce lawyer b/c his wife is making him miserable.)  I know however that no matter how much I want to control a situation or an outcome, I have to give it to him.  He carries our loads.

• Loads often weigh people down.  They become unproductive because they feel they have too much on their hands to deal with so they give up. 

2.      to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.

• As mentioned in the previous meaning we need the support and encouragement of others to help us with our “loads.”  These burdens we bare can cause us to be under more pressure than we desire.  When someone comes along to relieve the strain and pressure we are often very thankful. (Example:  My Uncle Rickey and Granddad helping to bear some of the burden of taking care of my dying mother who lost her fight to cancer in July 2010.)  The strain of that load put more on me than I ever thought was possible.  I was under pressure to be at work, and I pressured myself to be home with my mom.  I was under pressure to make sure my mom made it to all of her infusion appointments, and to be a wife to my husband and keep the house clean.  Talk about a load.  I was drowning. But God provided me with support through this trying time in my life. 

3.      to undergo or endure, especially with patience or submission; tolerate.

• Patience is not a virtue of mine.  At least I don’t think so.  I want things accomplished or done asap.  That however doesn’t ever happen.  I was probably the least patient with my mother throughout my entire life because of her disability (head injury).

• Endurance is hard especially when the “going gets tough.”  It’s in the times where we are having to endure pain and suffering that we need the support of others the most.  (Example:  Even though it may sound like a breeze to someone whose never had a major responsibility, the absence of the responsibility of taking care of my mom is a burden I’m having to endure.  It’s harder than one might think to go from having a lot of responsibility to virtually none.) 

There are more definitions and I could keep going, but I’ll stop here for now. 

Everyone needs a friend or a family member to support them in what they are doing or what they want to do.  It’s the absence of a support system that leads people to make poor decisions and wrong choices. 

I recently gained a new support system that I’d like to share about.  This is a place of support and encouragement that I never would have dreamed I would have.  It all started when I was sitting at home stressing about money.  I didn’t and still do not want to get back out in the work force.  It’s not something I enjoyed and after the last couple of years, it drained all my energy and patience having to balance my life with work, a dying mother, and a husband. 

I learned about a company called Internet CEO Moms in my search to find something to do at home to pass the time till I would want to get out and work again.  I heard about this company through Facebook, and so I clicked out the link, filled out some information, and waited for a call.  Sounds like nothing, but for me, it was something good.  I just didn’t know it yet.

I got a call that came soon after I registered for information.  I was skeptical like most people, but I took the time to listen, ask questions, and learn more.  I found out the information, and talked to my husband.  He wasn’t thrilled with what I was wanting, but he was mildly supportive.  He gave me the green light, so I signed up to try to work from home and make an income. 

My enroller is awesome.  She’s been super supportive and answered every question I have.  I’ve found a ton of women who all want the same things I do, and who want to stay at home.

What I’ve gotten from this group of women is SUPPORT, ENCOURAGMENT, FRIENDSHIP, ASSISTANCE, GUIDANCE, etc.  It came from out of now where when I was at a point of desperation.  Now that’s God for you.  He brought me to this place and has since given me the aid of people who I never even knew.  I’ve been reminded of the importance of people and being there for them when they need you.  I felt like I had lost that in my life.  I had friend, and family, but I was and still kind of am in a not so great place, but I’m daily getting new advice and help. 

It’s nice to know that others still care.  :)  So today, I’m letting everyone know to reach out and let others know you care.  Don’t leave them hanging and wondering if anyone will support them in their decisions.  You never know who might need help with something.  I know I did, and I’m very thankful for all God has brought me.  :)


Gina Bruchac
Internet CEO Moms
Helping Families Work From Home Since 1999
www.ceomomsonline.com/ginabruchac