What does it mean to be a neighbor?

I know what Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 – NIV), but what does that look like?

I’ve been praying for my neighbors, but what I’ve come to know is that I know nothing about my neighbors and that I haven’t been as good at this neighborly thing as I should.

We’ve been battling feral cats and kittens in our yard. They originated from a neighbor two doors down. I’ve become quite emotional about these animals and have tried to stay calm while speaking to the family about the cats. Our conversations have only been about the cat situation and that’s as far as it’s gone.

We have an acquaintance relationship with our neighbor to the other side. We chat when we’re out doing yard work. It was their yard our fence fell into this past winter. We have had some conversations with them through the years, but not enough to know all that was going on. We found out last night that Mrs. M passed away this past Tuesday. I saw Mr. M three times yesterday and didn’t connect with him at all because of the running around I was involved with. All the while, he was hurting and I missed it.

I could provide all kinds of excuses. But none of them are good. Each simply points to the acknowledgement that I am too preoccupied. Too busy. Too involved in my own life that I have missed opportunities to show Jesus’ love to my immediate neighbors.

So I’ll go back to my original question. What does it mean to be a neighbor? How do you connect with those who live 20 feet from your home? How are you showing Jesus’ love to the people who live on the other side of that privacy fence running down either side of your house? What actions are you taking to let your neighbors know that you know the answer to all of life’s tough questions and that you believe in a God who is able to mend all the brokenness in their lives?

Prayer was a good start for me, but it wasn’t enough. I’ve missed opportunities to show Jesus’ love to all those who live near me, not just those who live within the walls of my home.

I don’t know that I have any answers today. These are my initial thoughts and now I must figure out how to make all of this right in my world. What I am certain of is that I cannot do this on my own. God must be in the middle of it and lend His hand along the way. He must prepare the way for me to go and be the neighbor that loves as I love myself.

How can you be a better neighbor today?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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