O my, that family…, they are something!
Did you see what she did? And how she did it?
Did you hear what he said? And how he dropped it
Who could have imagined? And we thought ours
Was complicated…, what a bunch!

Who hasn’t encountered those neighbors who seem to know how best we should conduct our affairs, do our jobs, raise our families and interact with others? They have all the rules, know all the dos and don’ts of the neighborhood, and are always up to date on what’s going on behind closed doors. You would think that since they have so much time on their hands to stay abreast of all the juicy details of other peoples’ lives, they must have theirs together. But if truth must be told, who’s got their lives together?

Everyone of us carries a cross, sometimes visible and sometimes not. Every family bears an ache or two, where some are private and others are in public view. And the seasons of life stir things up for some while others are experiencing a time of rest. Often, in our seasons of rest, we forget the storms we forged through and jump to conclusions about others whose battles are raging. We compare ourselves with them and often are not even modest enough to do it silently. Some go as far as rubbing it down their noses so they know. But who is a good neighbor?

A good neighbor is the one who looks at life, not just from their limited peripheries but actually goes a little farther to wear the shoes of the other so as to feel where and how they are pinched, and tender appropriate care. While the prodigal neighbors sit in judgment to condemn the prodigal child who turned out a disappointment, the parents who belittled themselves, the children who found it hard to forgive their siblings and parents, and a family that failed to live up to expectations, a good neighbor keeps in mind that as the earth rotates, so family dramas make their rounds from door to door.

A good neighbor recognizes that nobody is immune to family problems and that “free” of them today does not mean free from them forever. A good neighbor knows to give what they would expect in their season of crises; empathy. A good neighbor is careful to tend the wounds of others with diligent love, care and understanding, knowing that these are seeds that grow whenever and wherever they are planted to yield fruits that bless more people, including those that planted them. Here’s something to think about: are you a good or a prodigal neighbor?

Blessings
Glory!