fmf: nothing

Here are the rules:
1. Write for five minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back to Lisa Jo Baker's blog with the rest of the Five Minute Friday-ers.
3. Comment on the person who linked up before you.

Please join us!

Today's prompt: Nothing

GO

It's a word we use all too often, usually, probably, without meaning it.

"What can I do for you? What can I do to help?"

"Oh, nothing!"

"Thanks for having us for dinner. What can I bring?"

"Nothing at all!"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

That last one especially. If there's anyone out there who claims they haven't used it, they're most likely lying!

But what is it about the response? Why do we feel the need to deny the help of others? To shield our real feelings from them? To refuse to even let them pick up a bag of baby carrots and some ranch dip when they just want to bring/do something?

Are we so arrogant that we need to be that self-sufficient? We want to open our homes and be hospitable for a dinner or a night or a party, but we can't allow them to reciprocate by bringing a bottle of wine, a salad, or a platter of fruit? We really have to prove that we can do it all ourselves? And why, even, sometimes, around close friends, do we hide ourselves? If something is wrong, it's true that they may not be able to do a single thing about it. In fact, they probably can't. Maybe they can offer some advice or tell about when they were in a similar situation, but, most likely, they'll just have to listen.

And that's okay. Because even if someone can't solve your problems, even if you don't want them to, just speaking them out loud to a trusted friend can make a difference.

As a soon-to-be mom of a toddler and newborn, I've been mentally prepping myself to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, this word from my vocabulary. So if you come to visit after the little nugget is born, and you ask what you can bring or what you can do to help, you'll probably be swinging by the grocery store for milk and fruit or spending a few minutes sweeping my floor or washing a few dishes.

And if I come visit you and ask what I can do to help, I fully expect you to come up with something.

You have been warned.

STOP