RISE, A Modern Guide for the Purpose Driven Woman Spring 2014 | Page 52

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All the residents that were home
had their doors sprawled open.

an you recall the days of the
milk man? You know, the guy who
delivered the ice-cold dairy delish- To say I was a bit shocked and
ness right to your doorstep?
amazed would be an understatement. This was clearly a place
And because your neighbors were where people knew their neighso great, they refrigerated said
bors. There was a trust, a knowlmilk in their ice box in concern
edge and a welcome home type of
that yours would go bad as it
mentality. I think it would be safe
waited on your doorstep in the
to say that if anything or anyone
sweltering summer heat? No?
happened to be out of place,
everyone would know it. These
Me either.
people from the outside looking
in seemed like good neighbors;
If you’re like me, the first thing
the type who would bring over an
that triggers in your mind when
apple pie, bowl of chicken noodle
you hear about a good neighbor
soup or offer up that cup of sugar.
is probably the infamous States
Farm slogan, “ Like a good neigh- So that begs the question, what
bor, State Farm is there!”
would it look like to live as a good
neighbor to those around us?
But what does it look like to be
What would it take or cost us?
a good neighbor, to be an active
part of your street, town, or sphere Let’s take a quick step back and be
of influence?
brutally honest, I’m anything but a
good neighbor. I mean I try to be
Today I had the privilege of gobut I have miles upon miles to go.
ing to visit a friend who lives in
a quaint neighborhood who has
When a family moved in across
been suffering from a dizzying
the street, I had every intention of
illness. As I wrestled my todinviting them over for dinner and
dler from his car seat, grabbed
being hospitable. Needless to say,
her meal, and made my way up
it took me two months to bake
the walkway, I couldn’t help but
them a tray of brownies as their
notice that this neighborhood was welcome present to the neighbornoticeably different. How?
hood. Two months!

written by Vonae DeyShawn

But isn’t that exactly what it
means to be a good neighbor?
A good neighbor allows herself
to be inconvenienced. To stop for
a moment in her busy day to say
hello, to inquire about the others
well being and simply listen. She
sees a need and actually meets it.
She loves those annoying children
who continually play with her garden statues, purposely relocating
them in an effort to get under her
skin. If only their parents would
discipline them!
This type of living reminds us to
“Love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Wait, what? How are we supposed to love those who live next
door to us, down the street from
us, or in our community as we
would love ourselves? It’s easy to
get along with ourselves; we aren’t
the annoying, noisy, opinionated,
needy ones.
As it so happens, I live on a main
street that is one of the hubs for
entering and exiting our quaint
little village. Unfortunately, for a
woman who being a “good neighbor,” doesn’t come easy to, there is
a bus stop located directly across
the street, a creative arts high
school about eight hundred feet
east of my home, and we’re sand-

go

The transformation from resident to a
happen overnight and it certainly isn’t easy
engaged in a thriving community is worth