Sometimes we just need someone to hold our hand.
Ross and I were walking down the stairs to the beach at Dixon Park.
The stairs were wet and slippery.
A young toddler was doing her best to navigate holding onto the railing, which was too high for her to comfortably reach, all whilst holding onto her bucket and spade and step down the stairs all by herself.
Her mum was on the sand with all the things mum’s need to take to the beach, along with baby number two in her arms.
The toddler had made it most of the way down, however the last part was especially wet and sandy and the distress was starting to show – on both the toddler and mum.
Without thinking, I offered my hand and said, “Would you like a hand to hold onto?”
Surprised at first, and with mum walking back to the bottom of the steps, she held my hand and the railing and proceeded to navigate the bottom 5 stairs.
We took our time.
First step. “Yay! Well done.”
Second step. “Awesome, keep going.”
Third step. “You’ve got this.”
Fourth step. “Almost there.”
Fifth step. “Hooray. You did it. Well done.”
And with that, I let go of her hand as she reunited with mum and Ross and I headed off down the beach.
Sometimes we just need a steadying hand and some encouragement to help us do what we know we must and what we can.
How about you?
Are you one to offer a hand of support?
Will you accept the hand when it’s offered?
Or, are you willing to hold yours out when you need one?
There’s no shame in offering or accepting a hand when you need it.
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