NEIGHBORS

 Would I be off the mark, if I said, most of us have had some trying times with neighbors at some point in our life?  NOW---I have had mostly wonderful neighbors, but there have been a few that pushed me to the limit.  Here in the apartment complex, I have over 700 neighbors.  It has been interesting to say the least.  The premier apartments in the complex are a couple of buildings of three story apartments.  Double garage, courtyard facing front door, all the bells and whistles in one luxury bundle.  This is the view daily, as Hero & I  make his noon time walk, of those luxury suites.    What is one to think?  This started out at Halloween and I thought it was cute---but after more than six months I am beginning to think there is a message being sent.  The door mat has this on it~"Leave-Laugh-Leave"

Being a good neighbor begins as a one way transaction.  Someone has to get the ball rolling when it comes to neighborliness.  Some of my favorite neighbors were in my last Ruston home in the French Quarter and those in the neighborhood where my children grew up.  What made them both so special---the time we spent enjoying one another.  We had a common interest beyond living in the same neighborhood and spent time enjoying each other in the midst of our commonness.  We raised children together, ate meals from the grill together, celebrated holidays with fireworks and more eating, and in the last Ruston hood we read books and discussed our different impressions and walked the loop and stopped and chatted.  It was ALWAYS enjoyable ! Though I am certain there were things about me that might have been annoying--it was overlooked because of our friendships.  Not unlike family, we so enjoy each other's company, that we look past those quirks that can be annoying.

SO--where am I going?  We all have neighbors of different sorts.  Neighbors in the pew on Sundays, neighbors we work with, neighbors we share interests with, neighbors we share the roads with...  We could easily call anyone we share space, time, interests, and on and on our neighbors.  What ties us together is much more important than our differences.  How we treat our neighbors is not only indicative of what we think of those neighbors, but it is a good indicator of who we are.  Think that over--the next time your neighbor annoys you.

"This is the first and great commandment.  

And the second is like unto it.

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Matthew 22: 37-39

I leave you with this quote ~

"Love of neighbor hinges on whether you love God with your whole being."

NOW THAT IS THOUGHT PROVOKING!