Just ask…

"Just ask."

I stomped around the house that morning, angry that my husband was sitting on the couch watching TV while I was putting all the laundry away, making beds, organizing, picking up, etc. Every time I walked by the couch, I would sigh or huff and make my annoyance know. After about 15 times, my husband finally said, "why are you stomping around like that?"

I glared at him and responded, "Because you're sitting on the couch while I'm running around like a mad person trying to get the house cleaned so I can actually sit down."

He said, "If you want my help, just ask."

I was fuming at this point and wanted to say a lot of things.

But I breathed and said, "Okay, will you help me make the bed?"

"Sure. Now was that so hard to just ask?"

The annoyance began to build. I didn't want to ask. I wanted him to just know I needed help. I wanted him to just offer simply because. I was annoyed that I should have to ask. I mean couldn't he tell I needed help??

And yet, this is how many of us respond. I want you to help, but I don't want to ask. But when you do help, I want you to do it only a certain way...

As I thought through this particular situation, I realized how much I hate to ask for specific things. Like if I ask for something specific and don't get it, I feel disappointed and I do not want to feel disappointed, so instead I just never asked for what I want and make myself disappointed first. Ultimately, as I moved through the feelings, it was crazy of me to not ask my husband for help, I mean he cannot read my mind- Thank God! That would be something...

Just ask.

These days, I ask for exactly what I want- the help around the house, the Christmas gift, the sale, etc. Because I will never get what I want if I don't ask.