neighbor – Laugh.Cry.Giggle.Smile.

Harvey may be one of the most horrific and uniting events we’ve had in recent times. As many in the media and far-out ideologues have pursued divisive tactics and even at this extreme low point criticized politicians from every corner, the rest of the country is pulling together to assist each other. A literal pulling of each other from the water and destruction to safety is occurring as I type this. It has been happening for days.

Watch this video from the NY Times to see neighbors helping neighbors.

Are our neighbors in the south fighting each other and throwing one another from the boats? No. They are working together to save lives.

Are we selfishly turning a blind eye? No. Americans are donating their physical time, strength, money, and supplies to provide for the needs that are increasing each day.

This is who we are as Americans. We are not the hate-filled stereotypes and labels that are so carelessly being splattered around and thrown on people. We are neighborly love for every language, skin shade, origin, and economic status.

Harvey is horrific. Deadly. Heart-breaking. Devastating. It does not have to be divisive. Though the storm is almost past, let it continue to unite us in our kind attention to each other’s needs. As the storm reminds us that we can’t prevent natural disasters, we need to recognize that we are able to prevent our own national disaster.

It starts with each of us personally. Reach out and get to know one another. Say hello. Look someone in the eye. Treat them with respect. Listen. Help your neighbor. Soothe the hurt.

I have a firm faith in God. Prayer, even if you can’t see or understand, (or for some even believe it), does have an impact. So I will continue to pray humbly for those affected by the hurricane and for every person in this country. As we respectfully close our eyes and bow our heads each night before bed, my family prays for those who are sad, hungry, angry, lonely, or sick that we might be able to show God’s love to them through our actions.

Each of us can do our little or our large to help both with Harvey and with our country. Please pay it forward positively.

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The trees are dripping and the rock driveway is beginning to crunch and splash when I drive on it. Branches are down all over town and in our yard. We are thawing from an ice storm.

The temperature hovered between 28-32*F for about 3 days during which it rained, spit, and sprinkled all day and all night long. Perfect conditions for ice. People lost electricity for up to 2 days. Most of our neighbors have generators to combat this issue as it does tend to happen whenever we have a nasty summer thunderstorm or the occasional winter icing.

winter

Because of this, church was cancelled on Sunday and school closed Monday and was late by 2 hours on Tuesday. We have a 12 mile drive to town, so I appreciate those kinds of decisions when the weather is less than idyllic.

Not thinking it a big deal, I casually posted yesterday on my social media that I was making a crock pot full of chili and that I’d be happy to drop off a hot bowl to any neighbors still without electricity. We never lost power and our house is still a construction zone, so it was the least I could do. What shocked me was the praise I received from people saying it was “above and beyond.”

When did helping a neighbor become the exception to the norm?

Our local churches and organizations find ways to help others in need on a regular basis. Why do we try to confine caring about others to the borders of those organizations? My opinion: We don’t need to rely completely on this group or that group or our government to care for our neighbors. Those groups do serve a wonderful purpose and have a much broader outreach than I do. However, I can still do my little as perfectly as this faulty human is able. I help my neighbors because I know them personally and I want to. I care for them. If I can, I’d like to make things better for them in their time of need even if it is just a bowl of chili with some cheese and Fritos.

My culinary skills don’t rival Martha or Ree by any means (Martha Stewart & Ree Drummond, culinary mavens). Ordinarily, I lack a bit of confidence when it comes to providing meals outside my home. Of the three of us girls, my two sisters are the more talented in the kitchen. However, I’m willing to give it a good college try.

Have you stepped outside your comfort zone this week and helped another person?

If you need ideas, here are a few to get you started!

Offer to shovel the sidewalk or driveway of your neighbor.
Check up on the elderly and those will illness.
Cookies, a cup of hot tea/ coffee, soup or an invite to dinner
A friendly conversation
A smile when you see your neighbor!
Or you could always go creative with a gift basket and do something “Secret Santa-ish” – warm socks, mugs and hot cocoa mix

If you want to see a Biblical perspective, which weighs heavily into how I operate, here is a good link too. I haven’t researched anything on this site except this one article: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/friendship/how-to-be-a-good-neighbor/

Tag: neighbor

Harvey

Being a Neighbor