Have you ever needed your friends to help you with something? Well, it happens all the time.  Some things you can do on your own, while many things need more than one person.

Let’s take “relocation” for instance.  You’ve lived in an apartment or house for numerous years, collecting “things” along the way.  Small things, medium sized things, and quite a  few large sized things (if I were to guess).  But who’s guessing, I’ve been there myself.  Take for instance in July of 1985 . . . yeah, I know that dates me, but whatever.  I was 8 months’ pregnant and, you guessed it, we were moving.  I’m sure you are thinking, we couldn’t have planned it any better; and you would be right!  It was an extremely hot and dry summer, but the worst part was that by being 8 months’ pregnant I couldn’t do any heavy lifting.  So we called upon our many friends and the guys got to work.  It took two of them to carry the sofa, bedroom furniture, and large appliances.  They were in and out of the house most of the day loading the truck, and then had to unload it at the end of the day.  We had pizza at the end of the day as our way of thanking them for helping us. And, for all you critiques out there . . . I would have cooked a really good meal for everyone but all my cookware was in boxes.  So pizza, it was.  Delicious.

Spring forward to current day:  I just recently volunteered to coordinate something at church and knew that I would need other volunteers to help me.  So naturally I reached out to my friends first and within several hours I had all of the help that I needed to fill the slots.  The event hasn’t happened yet, but I know I can count on my friends to be there!

Back in time again: There are times when friends just show up because they know you need them.  You don’t ask them, they just “DO”.  Like, when my mom passed away a few years ago.  It was hard.  She lived in another state and I had been away from my home for several weeks because of her illness and there was the likelihood that she wasn’t going to last much longer.  The day came when she passed away and then preparations had to be made for the funeral service.  She would be flown back to my home town to be buried and so my sisters and I helped my dad make the arrangements.  My friends showed up in full force to help clean my house and bring meals.  My sister’s friends provided meals which we munched on for days. My brother’s church provided a spread of covered dishes for family and friends to have after the funeral service the day my mom was buried.  People coming together for us in our time of need was truly a blessing.

I was thinking about what great friends I have just this morning and the song by The Beatles “With a Little Help From My Friends” popped into my head.  You know the song right?  I believe music is the pathway to the soul.  And one song can take on different meanings for different people.  Songs are analyzed often to give listeners the “true meaning” of what the song writer was thinking at the time they wrote the song.  This holds true for this song as well, but I choose to just listen to the song and interpret it for myself.  This way it speaks directly to me.  I hope I am making myself clear.  Here’s what the song means for me  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDF04fQKtQ

What would you think if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song
And I’ll try not to sing out of key
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm going to try with a little help from my friends

What do I do when my love is away?
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day?
(Are you sad because you’re on your own?)
No I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm going to try with a little help from my friends

(Do you need anybody?)
I need somebody to love
(Could it be anybody?)
I want somebody to love

(Would you believe in a love at first sight?)
Yes I’m certain that it happens all the time
(What do you see when you turn out the light?)
I can’t tell you, but I know it’s mine
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get high with a little help from my friends
Oh I’m going to try with a little help from my friends

(Do you need anybody?)
I just need somebody to love
(Could it be anybody?)
I want somebody to love

Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm going to try with a little help from my friend
Oh I get high with a little help from my friends
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends

The song was written specifically for Ringo, who didn’t sing lead that often. And was written in a conversational style so the other three Beatles could ask him questions and he would respond back to them.  I especially love the first four lines:  What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?  Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a song. And I’ll try not to sing out of key.

What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?

I say . . . SING!  Sit next to me in choir and if you sing out of tune, so what. Make a joyful noise!!!

Lend me your ears, and I’ll sing you a song.  And I’ll try not to sing out of key. 

I love to sing. And, I’ll sing for anyone who will listen.  I may not always be on key, but it brings me joy to sing.  I don’t have to worry so much about it when I’m in choir because I’m blending in with all my friends and they are helping me to sing out!!!

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hm, what was that note again?

Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Thank you guys for your support!

Oh I get high with a little help from my friends

I get my energy from you more often than you think!!!

Yes I get by with a little help from my friends!!!

After all . . .  “that’s what friends are for”.