Do you love your neighbor?

I was walkin' into the bank yesterday and there was an older Gentleman who was walkin' up toward the bank the same time I was--I reached for the door--held it open for him and said, "Mister! Let me hold the door open for ya today!"

Get the picture now! The bank has one of those things that I call a "double set of doors" meanin' you have to go through two sets of doors to get into the lobby!

The older Gentleman walks through and says, "Why, thank you sir! Here! Let me open this door right here for you!"

Laurenda, does this count??

God bless your heart--you hit the nail square on the head--our neighbor is anyone other than ourselves that we encounter! That means I will be just as kind to them as I am to myself! If I constantly "knock" myself--chances are I'll "knock" my neighbor! On and on!

Can I take a little information you gave and use it in a sermon one day?? Promise to give you a copy!!

Your Southern Baptist preachin' Buddy,
Blackbird

 

Yes, I think I do. I do not always find it easy to talk to strangers, but i do try e.g. smile and speak to someone at the bus stop, or help a mum laden with shopping and pushchair that sort of thing. I try to go by the principle that I treat people the way I would like to be treated. I am also aware of when Jesus said, "when I was thirsty, you gave me a drink..." and I try to act accordingly. I get pleasure from seeing someone smile because i said "hello" first. I like to take time to chat to some of the elderly folk around. We always seem to be in such a rush these days, and it is good to stop and pass the time of day. I am aware that I may be the only person they have spoken to that day. There are lots of ways we can be a good neighbour and I pray that the Lords' love be reflected in me.

 

You are such a blessing Wisdom Seeker. You have had so many trials and tribulations, and yet you can post like this.

You inspire me. I have a heartfelt smile for you too Sister.

God Bless You,
Charlotte

 

Would playing your mean neighbor and her ex's "song" really loud repeatedly be being a bad neighbor?
Just wondering!
I'm really a decent neighbor, ain't had a complaint against me ever. Except once, a friend lived downstairs and she was pregnant and grumpy and called me to say SOMEONE was walking around in their heels and it was annoying her. LOL I did a little tap dance for her and then took them off.
I love having neighbors for the most part, it makes me feel safe. Occasionally I'd love to have none, but for the most part I'd much prefer living in an apartment than a house, although there's benefits to both. In a house the neighbor can't turn the water from hot to cold while you're in the shower if you've made them mad, but then again you don't have to put shoes and coat on in the middle of winter and go outside if you need a cup of sugar.
Gina

 

I didn't see him say that! LOL Where was it?
Did you hardboil the eggs first to be nice and make sure they didn't get salmonella or whatever that is?
Gina

 

Well, I'm not 23, but close enough! My birthday's coming up, so I'm going on 29.
Gina

 

Is this your first time celebrating your 29th birthday Gina, or have you celebrated that birthday before?

Just teasing you dear. If it's really going to be your 29th birthday, I hope you have a wonderful one.

God Bless You,
Charlotte

 

I plead the 5th on this one Charlotte!
Gina

 

Okay, I gotcha'

Charlotte

 

We love our neighbors very much. We all take care of each others yards and keep a look out for one another. We cook for each other and may get an invite on any given Friday or Saturday night for an evening meal. Everyone is cordial. The neighborhood is full of young, old, marrieds, and singles.

 

I have tried to be a pleasant neighbor of course the one's right next to me just moved and I am kinda glad (shame on me) but I did pray for them because they were so unpleasant and some of their language was very inappropriate.
Some of the ways I show my love for my neighbors is in the kids I am usually taking 1-3 kids with me to church or to the YMCA. I took 2 extra kids with us to an easter egg hunt. I always call myself the koolaid Mom because we always have at least one extra kid with us on the weekend. My children are socialites! The only negative thing out of this is I am the only Mom that does this continuously. Also last night something happened that kinda discouraged me. My daughter asked if her friend could go with us to the YMCA and at first I said no but after a little coaxing I said yes.. the friend called her Mom and her Mom said if your two brothers and sister can't go you can't go either well I may be a koolaid Mom but I get a little too stressed with 7 kids so I said no and my 3 kids and I headed down the street well Lo and Behold my tire tread started coming off so none of us got to go to the YMCA but needless to say my husband is off work tonight and I think I am going to go with him and if the friends wanna come along then I will let them!

 

I think when the Bible says to love our neighbor it doesn't mean the people who live next door exclusively, but your fellow man which would include anyone and everyone you ever have the chance to come across.

Kandibear, I read your post. Do you think that you were punished with a flat tire because you didn't want to take 7 children to the Y? That is a buddhist principle called "Cause and effect" did you know that?

We had a rule at our house when my children still lived at home. They could eat over or sleep over or go with us somewhere if they had offered the same thing. We didn't allow any one sided relationships. It's only fair.

I'm not saying that you should not be generous, of course you should. But I think with children, they get into a "taking only" mode and need to be taught that relationships are "give and take"

God Bless You,
Charlotte

 

I may have been punished for my tire who knows but I did get a new tire so I am thankful for that! With my kids and their friends it's not necessarily the kids that are just taking and not giving it is the parents they are not giving their children individuality I mean saying well if one goes they all go and the ages go from 8 to 13 that's just plain silly to me! My kids go in all different directions because they all have their own individuality like my youngest goes to Taekwondo with a friend and his Mother (Thanks to her) and my daughter goes to her Dad's every other weekend (my 1st husband) and my younger son is a stay around the neighborhood type child! Well needless to say the one friend did get to go to the YMCA yesterday with my daughter and without her other 3 siblings so maybe it just takes time! Plus why am I complaining about being the koolaid Mom there is some very positive aspects to being that..1- I always know where my kids are and 2- Sometimes I get to take the kids to church with me and be a positive influence to them! Praise God for that!